University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Coastal Carolina
Women's Soccer Stuns Coastal Carolina, 1-0
10.18.2014 | Women's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Caroline Houser scored late in the second half as UNC Asheville upset league-leading Coastal Carolina, 1-0 in Big South Conference women's soccer Saturday afternoon at windy Greenwood Field.
The Bulldogs (9-7-1, 3-4-1 BSC) were without five starters on the day and used back-up goalkeeper Keller Dixon throughout the match as field player. Senior goalkeeper Heather Muller was brilliant for the Blue & White with 11 saves as she earned her fourth shutout of the season.
The Chanticleers (8-6-2, 5-1-1) suffered their first league loss of the year, despite out-shooting Asheville, 20-10. They used a wind advantage in the opening half to take an 11-2 lead in shots. Play was more even in the second half as the visitors had just a 9-8 edge in shots. Muller made six saves in the second half, including some huge ones late in the game.
The winning goal came at 87:20 when a ball was mishit by the Chanticleers. The ball went right to Caroline Houser who streaked in on a breakaway. She hit a blast from six yards out that went into the back of the net on the left side to put the Bulldogs stunningly in front, 1-0. It was the freshman forward's team-leading sixth goal of the year.
CCU sent everyone forward in the final two minutes to try and get the tying goal but the Chants could not get a shot off in the final two minutes. Asheville was able to clear away one corner kick the visitors had as the Bulldogs picked up their first win over the Chanticleers since the 2005 season.
Kacey Johnson had seven shots for CCU with four goal on goal. She had one shot in the first half that Muller was just able to knock away at the last minute to keep the game scoreless.
UNC Asheville plays next at Big South rival Longwood next Saturday evening at 7 p.m.
