Concord Shuts Out Fairmont State in 3-0 Win

 ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University women's soccer team took a 3-0 win over the Fairmont State on Friday afternoon at Anderson Field. 

The Maroon and Gray improve to 2-1-1, (1-1 in MEC play) while the Fighting Falcons fall to 0-3 on the season. (0-2 MEC) 

After a scoreless first half, Concord came out firing in the second half, forcing three saves from FSU goalkeeper Shawna Graham in the first 20 minutes, including a powerful free kick from Sarah Akers that Graham could only put out for a corner kick.

The Mountain Lions opened the scoring after junior forward Emily Cole found senior forward Kari Simon off of a throw-in in the penalty area.  Simon cut past one defender and slotted home a shot at the near post to give Concord the lead in the 63^rd minute. Concord continued to mount the pressure on the Fighting Falcons after scoring the opening goal, with Simon getting two more shots before FSU striker Erica Uselton found herself one on one with Concord freshman goalkeeper Emily Simpkins.  Simpkins made the save to preserve Concord's lead at 1-0.

About 45 seconds after returning on a substitution back into the match in the 83^rd minute, freshman forward Pilar Elias notched her first goal of the season off of a header on a cross from Cole. Elias then added her second goal of the game when Cole had another cross tipped out to the top of the 18-yard box by Graham. Elias then rifled a shot past Graham off of the rebound to give CU a 3-0 lead. 

Concord outshot Fairmont 13-3 throughout the second half of play.    

Cole assisted on all three goals for the Mountain Lions. Simon has found the back of the net in three of the first four games for Concord this season. The backline defense only allowed three shots on goal, including only one in the last 80 minutes. 

The Mountain Lions held the advantage in shots 20-6 and also in shots on goal 14-6.

Simpkins saved all three shots that came her way. Elis tallied a team-high five shots on goal with freshman defender Tannis Jackson and Simon also recording multi-shots on goal for the match.

Concord travels to Shepherdstown, West Virginia to play Shepherd in a Mountain East clash on Sunday, September 13.  Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.                 
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