CCU

Women's Soccer Wins Big South Regular Season Championship with 1-0 Victory over Radford

           

Women's Soccer Wins Big South Regular Season Championship with 1-0 Victory over Radford

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CONWAY, S.C. – A goal in the 15th minute by senior Ashleigh Gunning (Baton Rouge, La./Magnet (LSU)) was all the Coastal Carolina University women’s soccer team (13-5-1, 6-1 Big South) needed in a 1-0 win over Radford (9-8, 3-4 Big South) Nov. 3 in Conway, S.C. With the win, Coastal Carolina takes the outright Big South regular-season championship for the first time in school history.   Gunning’s shot went in the upper 90 in the right corner at 14:24 for her Big South-tying 13th goal of the season. Coastal would almost make it 2-0 as senior Amanda Gelsomino (Johnston, R.I./Johnston (University of New England) hit the crossbar with her shot in the 28th minute. The ball would then get to the head of Gunning, who shot was just wide. Coastal outshot Radford 11-4 in the first half, while the Lady Chants took both corners in the first 45 minutes. Freshman Amy Haggard (Sylva, N.C./Smoky Mountain) had three saves in the first half, while Radford’s Emily Heath stopped four shots.   Haggard would not have to make a save in the second half off of three Highlander shots. Coastal had six shots in the second half, with its best opportunity to score in the 84th minute when junior Blair Monroe’s (Little River, S.C./North Myrtle Beach) had a 1-on-1 with Heath, but the Highlander goalie made the save.   Coastal outshot Radford 17-7 and had the 4-3 advantage on corner kicks. Heath ended the game with six saves, while Haggard had her sixth shutout of the season and improved her record to 12-2 in goal by stopping three shots.   Coastal wins the regular season title for the second time in school history. The 2003 team shared the crown. The 13 wins tied the school record set by the 2005 and 2006 teams. Coastal also added on to its school record by getting its ninth shutout of the year.   At halftime, Coastal honored seniors Gunning, Gelsomino, Emma Humphries (Wellington, New Zealand/Samuel Marsden College (Cal State Fullerton) and Jill Karelitz (Columbia, S.C./Dutch Fork) as they played at the CCU Soccer Field for the final time in their collegiate career.   Coastal will have the top-seed in the 2007 Big South Women’s Soccer Tournament and will face eighth-seeded VMI Thursday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. The complete bracket will be available on BigSouthSports.com Saturday night. Radford tied Liberty with matching 3-4 conference records. The Highlanders will have the sixth seed in the BSC Tournament and will face High Point.