University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Women's Soccer Begins Big South Tournament Play
10.31.2015 | Women's Soccer
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL
Teams: No. 6 Asheville (11-8-0, 4-6-0 BSC)
No. 3 Campbell (12-6-0, 7-3-0 BSC)
Location: Eakes Athletics Complex/Buies Creek, N.C.
Time: Sunday, Nov. 1, 3 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO (Big South Network) | LIVE STATS
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The No. 6-seeded UNC Asheville women's soccer team opens up Big South Conference Tournament quarterfinal action Sunday afternoon, traveling to Buies Creek, N.C., to battle No. 3-seed Campbell at 3 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs earned the sixth seed by finishing 4-6 in conference play and winning the tiebreaker over Charleston Southern.
LAST MEETING: Campbell 5, Asheville 1 (Sept. 27, 2015)
In the two teams' only regular-season meeting this year, the Camels came out on top 5-1 over the Bulldogs in Buies Creek, N.C. Asheville trailed 1-0 at the half, but a three-minute stretch between the 49th and 52nd minutes saw Campbell find the back of the net three times and take control of the game. Junior Paige Trent scored the Bulldogs' lone goal in the 50th minute.
ASHEVILLE NOTES
- The Bulldogs are making their second consecutive appearance in the Big South Conference Tournament and third in the last five years (2011, 2014, 2015). Asheville is an even 16-16 (.500) since 1992 in the Big South Tournament and have claimed two tournament championships (1995, 2006) to go along with five runner-up finishes (1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005).
- Sunday's game will mark the first ever postseason meeting between Asheville and Campbell.
- With their 11th win of the season Oct. 21, the Bulldogs have recorded back-to-back double-digit win seasons after bettering last season's win total of 10. In fact, Asheville has posted back-to-back double-digit win seasons for the fifth time in the program's 23 year history and the Bulldogs' 21 wins the last two years ranks as the fifth-most wins over a two-year span in program history (1995-96: 26 wins; 2004-05: 24 wins; 2005-06: 23 wins; 2003-04: 22 wins).
- Asheville's backline has been stingy this season en route to posting six shutouts. In fact, six shutouts is tied for fifth-most in a single season (12 in 1995; 10 in 2004; eight in 2003, 2005, 2006; seven in 1997, 1999). Asheville has recorded at least five shutouts in a season 14 times in program history and in each of the last three seasons (five in 2013; five in 2014; six in 2015).
- Sophomore Caroline Houser is on pace to set a new school record for assists in a season as her current total of nine helpers is tied for most in a single season with Kaitlyn Eckert (2012). Houser's nine assists is second in the conference and 16th in the nation. The 2014 Big South Conference Freshman of the Year has 13 career assists, tied for fifth-most in school history. Houser poured in her team-leading seventh goal of the season in the 58th minute at South Carolina State (Oct. 21). Houser's 23 points this season leads the team and is tied for eighth with Kristi Cummings (1993) for most points in a single season in single season.
- The Bulldogs have shown to possess one of the most dynamic offenses in the Big South Conference, pacing the conference in goals (35) and points (97) while also ranking second in assists (27, 1.42 per game) and fourth in shots (285, 15.00 per game). The offensive attack has been sparked by a trio of players, as sophomore Caroline Houser leads the team in goals (7), assists (9), and points (23), while junior Paige Trent is tied for the team lead with seven goals and freshman Justine James is second with six.
- Junior Paige Trent provided the game-winning goal for the Bulldogs in the 106th minute to upend South Carolina State (Oct. 21). The goal for Trent was her second of the night after finding the back of the net in the 58th minute to even the score and was her first multi-goal game of the season. Asheville is an impressive 7-3 (.700) in games decided by one goal and remain a perfect 3-0 in overtime games this season.
- Two Bulldogs have earned Big South Conference Player of the Week honors this season. Freshman goalkeeper Lily Brown was named the Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 12, her first career award. Brown also becomes the first Bulldog to win Defensive Player of the Week honors since the award's inception in 2010. Junior Paige Trent was named the conference's Attacking Player of the Week on Aug. 24. Four players under fifth-year head coach Michelle Demko have received a weekly award while 28 Bulldogs since 1993 have garnered weekly conference accolades.
QUOTE
“I am excited for our game tomorrow. Any time we can get on the field together it's an opportunity to strengthen our process, which has been our focus this season. Campbell is a good team. They play with a lot of passion and commitment, as do we. I expect this matchup to have a high tempo between two teams with very similar styles. I also like that we are going back to the field where we underperformed earlier this year. We talk a lot about resiliency in our program and how that comes from being aware of opportunities. We see challenges as opportunities, not threats. It is how we have grown this season and how we will continue to grow moving forward. Tomorrow's game is another chance at an opportunity. I think we are ready for the challenge and it should be a great day of soccer.”- Fifth-year head Coach Michelle Demko
CAROLINE HOUSER, EMMA HOUSER, JUSTINE JAMES HONORED BY BIG SOUTH
Three UNC Asheville women's soccer players garnered All-Big South Team accolades, as announced by the conference office Oct. 30. Sophomores Caroline Houser and Emma Houser were honored as All-Big South Second Team selections while freshman Justine James was named to the All-Freshman Team. Emma Houser additionally earned All-Academic Team honors.
Since 1993, 80 Bulldog women's soccer players have earned postseason awards from the Big South, including this year's trio. Under fifth-year head coach Michelle Demko, 12 Bulldogs have made the All-Big South Team.
Sophomore Caroline Houser ended the regular season leading the Bulldogs in three categories including goals (7), assists (9), and points (23). Her nine assists this season tied a program record for most assists in a single season (Kaitlyn Eckert, 2012). Houser ranks second in the conference this season for points and assists, while her goal total places her tied for sixth. Her 23 points this season is tied with Kristi Cummings (1993) for most points in a single season in school history. The 2015 All-Big South Second Team selection marks the second consecutive postseason award for Houser as she was named the 2014 Freshman of the Year last season.
Sophomore Emma Houser tallied a goal and two assists (4 points) from her backline defender position. She played an integral role in a defense that posted six shutouts on the season. For the third consecutive season, the Bulldog defense recorded at least five shutouts and six in a season is the most since the 2006 team shut down eight opponents.
Freshman Justine James becomes the sixth Bulldog ever to be named to the All-Freshman Team since the award's inception in 2006. James is also the second Bulldog in as many years to be on the All-Freshman list after Caroline Houser won Freshman of the Year in 2014. The Cary, N.C., native made a splash in her first season, ranking second on the team in both goals (6) and points (13). Both James and Caroline Houser played key roles in Asheville's attacking line, as the Bulldogs paced the Big South in goals (35) and points (97) this season.
UP NEXT
- The winner of No. 6 Asheville/No. 3 Campbell will advance to the Big South Conference Tournament Semifinals to face the winner of No. 7 Charleston Southern/No. 2 Coastal Carolina in Greensboro, N.C., Nov. 6.
