University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Mars Hill
Relentless Bulldog Attack Tops Mars Hill 2-0 in Women?s Soccer
08.31.2014 | Women's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Freshman forward Caroline Houser scored a goal and tallied an assist to lead UNC Asheville to a 2-0 victory over Mars Hill Sunday afternoon at Greenwood field.
With the victory the Bulldogs improve to 3-1 in the early stages of their 2014 campaign.
Senior forward Kaitlyn Eckert opened the scoring for the Blue & White just ten minutes into the first half. Kennedy Garrett lofted a ball into space before Caroline Houser flicked the ball past the incoming Mars Hill goalkeeper and into the path of Eckert who touched the ball into a wide open net.
The Bulldogs struck again in the 44th minute through Carolina Houser. Houser's run split the Mars Hill defense and Abby Holt's pass hit her in stride before scoring to the bottom right corner from 12 yards out to give Asheville a 2-0 lead heading into the half.
Eckert led the attack in the first half with four shots, while Houser added three. Making her first start of the season, Keller Dixon saved the only attempt on the Asheville net. Tori Stajduhar made eight first half saves in net for Mars Hill.
Asheville had a number of chances to add to its lead in the second half, including shots from Emma Houser (56th minute) and Eckert (60th minute) which hit the crossbar.
With the score still at 2-0, the Mountain Lions had an opportunity to cut the lead in half, finding Rachel Weber in the box. However, Dixon came out quickly off her line to smother a point-blank opportunity for her second saved of the game.
Garrett and Courtney Nabor each tested Stajduhar from distance late in the half, but on each occasion Stajduhar was able to make the save.
The Bulldogs finished the match with 29 shots, just seven off the school record set in October of 1996 against Lenoir-Rhyne. Caroline Houser finished the game with seven shots, while Eckert added six. Tori Stajduhar ended the match with 15 saves.
Asheville will return to action on Friday to face Alabama State at 5:30 p.m. at Greenwood field.
