DAVIDSON, N.C. - Needing to win its last regular season game to be one of the four teams to make the Southern Conference Women's Soccer Tournament, Davidson scored that win, 2-1, in dramatic fashion on Senior Day over Georgia Southern on Saturday evening at Alumni Stadium.
After controlling possession the majority of the game and holding a 1-0 lead after a goal in the early stages of the second half, Davidson found itself all knotted up at a 1-1 apiece when the Eagles' Sara Oland netted her third goal of the season in the 86th minute. Oland drove the ball down into the box on the far right side and sent a shot to the far left post that went past a diving Loring Ward for the tying goal.
The Wildcats then quickly regrouped with just three minutes left in regulation and struck for the winning goal off a miscue from the Eagles' defense.
The 'Cats had possession on the far side of the field, when they sent a cross into the box where a charging Rachel Barnett came in and fired off a shot that was saved by GSU's goalkeeper Lauren Santos. But, in an attempt by one of the Eagle defenders to clear the ball off the goalline, she bounced the ball off the keepers back, which then hit off the post and went into the back of the net for an own goal, and the deciding score that led the 'Cats to the 2-1 win.
With the win, Davidson continued its strong play as of late, pushing its unbeaten streak to six as the Wildcats improved to 10-9-1 overall and 7-3-1 in league matches. The 'Cats SoCon mark tied Elon for fourth place in the standings and because they defeated the Phoenix earlier this season, they win the tie breaker allowing them to move into that final spot for the SoCon Tournament.
The Eagles closed out their 2009 campaign at 1-17 overall and 1-10 in the league.
On a day when the Wildcats' eight seniors were honored prior to the game, it was the senior duo of Blakely Low and Kyri Bye-Nagel who gave Davidson a 1-0 lead at 50:38 in the second period.
Low drove into the far left side of the 18-yard box where she ripped a shot to the far post that was saved by Santos, but she was not able to control possession, allowing Bye-Nagel to race in for the rebound and slide the ball to the near post for her eighth score of the season. The duo pace the team with 20 and 16 points, respectively, this year.
The Wildcats peppered the goal all evening, finishing with a game-high 24 shots and placing 17 of those on goal. They also had a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Santos kept her team in the contest most of the evening with numerous diving saves on her way to 14 stops in all for the game. Ward finished with one save in goal as the senior improved to 6-4-0 between the pipes for the Wildcats.
Note: With Davidson's win the SoCon Women's Tournament Field is set:
No. 2 College of Charleston vs. No. 3 Samford - November 6, 5:00 p.m.
No. 1 UNC Greensboro vs. No. 4 Davidson - November 6, 7:30 p.m.
UNC Greensboro Soccer Stadium - Greensboro, N.C.
Photo Credit: Southern Conference
