University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Liberty
Bulldogs Claim Big South Women's Soccer Championship - UNC Asheville Bulldogs Official Athletics Site
01.01.1970 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 5, 2006
CONWAY, S.C. - After 110 minutes of scoreless action, No. 5 seed UNC Asheville out-scored No. 3 Liberty, 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout to claim its first Big South women's soccer title since 1995 Sunday afternoon at CCU Soccer Field.
Meagan Bradham scored the game-winner for the Bulldogs after goalkeeper Veronica Lazar blocked and saved Maggie Woody's attempt. Juliana Duncan converted the first shot of the shootout with a top shelf score on the left side. Liberty's Mallory Neff countered with a goal of her own, and it was 2-2 after the first four shooters. Robyn Busha's roller inside the left post made it 3-2 in favor of the Bulldogs. On Liberty's third attempt, Tanya Payne missed her attempt wide right to give Asheville the advantage. After Kate Barrow's attempt sailed over the net, Neff had a chance to tie the shootout at 3-3, but her shot was stopped in front of the net by Lazar, setting up Bradham's winning attempt.
 Ashleigh Carter was named Tournament MVP  |
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The game was a rematch of last year's championship tilt, the first rematch of a Big South final since 2001. UNC Asheville captures its second Big South Women's Soccer Tournament championship and first since 1995, as well as its first-ever berth in the NCAA College Cup. It was the fifth overtime championship game in League history, fourth to be decided by penalty kicks.
Liberty, which was making its fifth title game appearance, held the advantage in shots at 22-12. Katherine Neff had four saves for the Lady Flames, while Lazar had five stops for the Bulldogs.
"I knew if we could get through the first half jitters, we would be fine. We played much better in the second half and in penalty kicks you never know what to expect," said Asheville head coach Michele Cornish. "Liberty played very well. We have been on the other end twice, and it is great to be on the winning side. Our expectations were a lot less than in past years heading into the tournament, but our girls were very confident and determined to not let this opportunity get away."
UNC Asheville (10-6-3), making its fourth Big South championship game appearance in five years and League-record seventh overall, receives the Conference's automatic berth to the 2006 NCAA Tournament, which begins Friday, Nov. 10, at campus sites. Pairings will be announced Monday, Nov. 6, between 3:00-4:00pm EST live on ESPNews.
Bulldog fans can watch the announcement with the team at Wild Wing's in downtown Asheville beginning at 3 p.m.
 Bulldogs pose with Championship Trophy |
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2006 Big South Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Ashleigh Carter, UNC Asheville (MVP)
Juliana Duncan, UNC Asheville
Sara Pahl, UNC Asheville
Kate Barrow, UNC Asheville
Paige Cheek, Liberty
Mallory Neff, Liberty
Kristin Faxon, Liberty
Emily McColl, Coastal Carolina
Ashleigh Gunning, Coastal Carolina
Dimitra Poulos, Winthrop
Ashley Aboud, Winthrop
Jill Boyer, Radford
Laura Eldridge, High Point
Karen Knight, Charleston Southern
Catherine Spiker, Birmingham-Southern
