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LADY LIONS CLAIM SHUTOUT WIN AT WJU

Kate Armentrout Head Shot 800 x 1001
Kelsey Ballard Head Shot 800 x 1000
Kacey Hildebrand Head Shot 800 x 1002
Gemma Nortcliffe Head Shot 800 x 1001














Concord Women's Soccer head coach Stefani Workman knew that something had to change in the wake of the Lady Lions' disappointing 6-2 loss to Charleston last Tuesday afternoon. The six goals were the most allowed by CU in a WVIAC match, and the loss eliminated CU from finishing in the league's top two and getting a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

Saturday, the change came. And it was good.

CU returned to form by shutting out Wheeling Jesuit, 2-0, in a WVIAC match Saturday afternoon in Wheeling, WV. The victory raised Concord's record to 5-6, 5-3, solidified the squad's odds of qualifying for the league playoffs, and bolstered hopes for a home-field match in the tourney's first round.  (WVIAC Standings:  www.wviac.org/standings.aspx)

“I'm very proud of the way the ladies played today,” CU head coach Stefani Workman said Saturday night. “They played like that had something to prove and they did just that. We played hard and had plenty of opportunities to finish.”

Concord finished well on two of those opportunities.

Kelsey Ballard – who assisted on both goals Tuesday against UC – scored her first goal of the season off an assist from Kate Armentrout in the 32nd minute.
“It was off a throw-in deep in the attacking half,” Workman said. “Kate crossed the ball and Lindsey DeVaughn got a shot on goal. Their keeper fumbled it and Kelsey came streaking in and blasted it into the net on a one-time finish.”

The tally came four minutes after DeVaughn just missed giving CU the first lead when her shot beat WJU keeper Melissa Taylor but deflected off the goalpost.

Wheeling Jesuit went into Saturday's match 3rd in the WVIAC in shots, goals and points, and outshot CU 23-13. Cardinals F Kara Houston – the league's leading scorer – tried ten shots, including three on goal. But the Concord defense and goalkeeper Kacey Hildebrand kept the Cardinals off the board.

Kelsey Ballard at East Stroudsburg 467 x 479
“Kacey should be happy with her play today. She was strong and she owned the box,” Workman said. “She kept the team in the game, having to make saves on four breakaway shots. On one, she tipped the ball over the crossbar. On another, she pushed it wide.”

Hildebrand made back-to-back clutch saves just eight seconds apart in the 80th minute to keep CU ahead 1-0. Not long after, Concord got the clinching goal.

Gemma Nortcliffe, who missed Tuesday's match with an injury, got her first goal of the season in the 81st minute, off another Armentrout assist.
“Kate got a through ball to Gemma making a slashing run behind the backs,” said Workman. “She took a touch then placed the ball past their keeper to the far side of the net.”

BOXSCORE/STATISTICS/PLAY-BY-PLAY:  www.wju.edu/athletics/wsoccer/stats/wju-w109.htm

The Lady Lions return home to host WVU Tech in a non-conference match on Tuesday, October 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 pm at Anderson Field. Admission is free.








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