College of Charleston
Samford
W. Soccer Drops 1-0 Decision to Samford on Senior Day
10/14/2012 7:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The College of Charleston women's soccer team fell, 1-0, to Southern Conference leading Samford in a defense-heavy tilt at Patriots Point on Sunday afternoon. The match served as the Cougars' Senior Day and commemorated their six outstanding seniors.
The game was largely a defensive stalemate in which CofC played strong possession-style soccer but didn't create any overly-threatening chances until the second period.
The lone goal of the match came in the 57th minute after a Bulldog cornerkick. CofC thwarted the initial attempt but failed to completely clear the ball and Brittany Hoffman slid it back into the top of the box where Michell Moll struck it with the outside of her foot and sent the ball into the top-right corner of the net.
“It was a fantastic effort and the kids played extremely hard for a full 90 minutes,” said head coach Christian Michner. “We have to make sure we see every play to completion though and that's what happened on their goal. We cleared the initial ball but didn't finish the play and get the ball completely out. Credit to them for sticking with it.”
“We created many chances, in the second half especially. In the first half we were a little under the gun but we regrouped and had the run of play in the second half. I'm happy with the effort, certainly not with the result but we'll pick ourselves up and have another week of training to be ready again next weekend.”
CofC made several runs at the opposing goal and took six second-half shots after being denied an attempt in the opening period. The Cougars put three of their shots on frame but Samford goalkeeper Melissa Montgomery was always up to the task.
Taylor Avery (Clifton, Va.) made two saves for the Cougars.
As part of Senior Day, the Cougars commemorated Haley Hutchens (Irmo, S.C.), Katie Kerr (Cincinnati, Ohio), Toni Schneider (Arlington, Texas), Emilie Huser (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Maryam Buazza (Katy, Texas) and Sarah Schaidle (Simpsonville, S.C.).
“Senior Day was real special,” said Michner. “We've got six amazing seniors and they've been a major part of the program for all of their years here. Their leadership has been important to us all year and we'll need it down the stretch as we're still facing three very tough games.”
The Cougars return to action next weekend with a pair of matches in the mountains of North Carolina. CofC opens the weekend at Western Carolina on Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. and close with Appalachian State on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m.
