W. Soccer Heads to SoCon Semifinals For Second Time in Three Years After 2-1 Win

Sunday, November 4

Davidson, N.C.

3 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

14-4-1

#7 Wofford (SoCon Quarterfinals)

7-11-2

Wofford

Davidson

W. Soccer Heads to SoCon Semifinals For Second Time in Three Years After 2-1 Win

11/5/2007 1:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID

SoCon Tournament Site

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Sophomores Blakely Low (San Antonio, Texas) and Kyri Bye-Nagel (Hanau, Germany) helped the Davidson Wildcats continue their quest of a Southern Conference women' soccer title when they each scored a goal in the first half to lead Davidson to a 2-1 quarterfinals win over No. 7 seeded Wofford on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Stadium. The No. 2 seeded Wildcats moved their winning streak to six straight to push their overall mark to 14-4-1, while the Terriers saw their season end at 7-11-2.

The win for the 'Cats this afternoon pushed them into the semifinals for the second time in the past three years, and seventh time overall, where they will face the No. 3 seeded Furman Paladins on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. The Paladins defeated No. 6 seeded Appalachian State, 3-1, in their quarterfinal game on Sunday night.

With the win, Davidson matches the 2000 and 2005 squads for the most wins in a single-season. The Wildcats also moved their home record to 8-1, second most home wins next to the nine set by the 2000 team.

Davidson wasted little time in taking control of the game when Low struck for her sixth goal of the season in the sixth minute of the first half. Fellow sophomore Lauren Conner (Mechansicburg, Pa.) played a perfectly placed through ball from midfield to a streaking Low, who gathered in the pass after racing by the Wofford defense. Low then struck a right-footed shot into the top-left corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

Then at the 24:37 mark, Bye-Nagel continued her career year with her team-best 12th score of the season, and eventual game-winner, off a feed from freshman Allison Drutchas (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.). After Davidson worked the ball into Wofford's part of the field, Drutchas fed a pass to the far side of the 18-yard box to Bye-Nagel, who turned and chipped a left-footed shot over the head of Wofford's goalie Katie McChesney to the middle of the goal for a 2-0 Wildcat advantage. Drutchas picked up fourth assist of the season, second-best on the team.

After being held scoreless for 74 minutes, Wofford found the back of the net in the 75th minute to make things interesting. Mary Rea led a through ball to the near side of the 18-yard box, where Kendra Merchant made a move to get by her defender and drive the ball into the penalty box. Merchant then fired a shot to the far post past a diving Bevin English (Charleston, S.C.) to bring the Terriers within one at 2-1.

Davidson defense though, would shut down any other Wofford threat the rest of the way to help preserve the 2-1 win for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats picked up a 12-6 advantage in shots and had 3-1 edge in corner kicks.

McChesney finished with a game-high six saves for Wofford, while the Wildcats' English recorded a single save in improving to a career-best 13-4-1 on the season between the pipes.

Davidson will next play on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. against No. 3 Furman. The Wildcats hope to utilize their home-field advantage as they play host to this year's semifinals and championship games for the women's soccer SoCon tournament.

Scoring Summary
6:07 DAV Blakely Low (6) (Lauren Conner)
24:37 DAV Kyri Bye-Nagel (12) (Allison Drutchas)
75:07 WOF Kendra Merchant (4) (Mary Rea)