'Cats Shut Out Highlanders for Second Straight Conference Triumph

Wednesday, September 19

Radford, Va.

7:00

Davidson College Athletics

at Radford

'Cats Shut Out Highlanders for Second Straight Conference Triumph

9/19/2007 11:30:39 PM | Field Hockey

Lauren Biggers -- Assistant SID

Box Score

RADFORD, Va.— Senior Eleanor Cowley scored the game-winner and sophomore keeper Christa Goeke had seven saves, as the Davidson Wildcat field hockey team shut out the Radford Highlanders, 2-0, at Dedmon Center Stadium on Wednesday night for their second straight NorPac conference win.

Snapping Radford's 14-match home winning streak, the 'Cats improve to 5-2 and an even 2-2 in conference play, while the Highlanders fall to 2-7 overall and 0-3 in the conference.

"We went into tonight's game really fired up," head coach Ginny Sutton said. "It could have been a messy game on Radford's grass field, but we played 70 minutes together as a team to rise above them. We connected all over the field with more finesse, and we were able to put the ball in the cage. Kayli's goal in the last 30 seconds of the game solidified how hard we worked and how unified we played until the very end."

After a scoreless first period, Cowley put the 'Cats on the board with her third goal of the season in the 45th minute, and senior forward Kayli Maxwell added the only other score on a breakaway with time expiring.

The reigning NorPac Defensive Player of the Week, Goeke finished the game with seven saves, while Radford's Jennifer Wisniewski had five.

The Highlanders outshot the 'Cats 12-8 and held a 9-6 edge on penalty corners, but Davidson made the most of its opportunities. Both teams had four shots in the first period, with Radford taking an 8-4 edge in the second. Likewise, corners were an even 2-2 in the first, but the Highlanders got seven chances in the second to just four for Davidson.

With an even 2-2 record in conference play, the 'Cats will continue NorPac action this weekend, taking on Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, before returning to Belk Turf Field to host a pair of non-conference matchups with North Carolina and Michigan State next week.