University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Sunday, August 27
Jacksonville, FL
2:00 PM
UNC Asheville
3-1-0
2
at
1
Jacksonville
1-2-0
1
2
OT 1
F
AVL
1
0
1
2
Jacksonville
0
1
0
1
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
Naber Scores Overtime Game-Winner As Houser Breaks Program Record in 2-1 Victory at Jacksonville
08.27.2017 | Women's Soccer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the second time in the previous three matches, senior Courtney Naber scored the game-winning, overtime goal on Sunday afternoon to lift the UNC Asheville women's soccer team to a 2-1 road victory over Jacksonville.
Senior Caroline Houser broke the program record for career assists as she assisted Zoe Lewis in the 34th minute for the first goal of the game.
BULLDOG BITES
How It Happened
The Bulldogs didn't take a shot for over 33 minutes, but when they did, they made it count.
After generating a turnover, Caroline Houser dished a pass off to Lewis in the 34th minute, who placed it in the left side of the net for the second goal of her career. With the assist, Houser moved into first in program history with 23 career assists.
Asheville continued to put shots on frame as Emma Houser and Naber each accounted for a shot on goal within the final seven minutes of the first half.
Five minutes into the second half, Jacksonville took a shot, but a Bulldog blocked the attempt, which gave the Dolphins a corner kick. In the team's fourth corner of the match, Meagan Gruber took advantage as she put a header in the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.
For the next five minutes, the Bulldog defense fended off a flurry of shots as the 'Phins took four shots with a pair on goal.
Neither team had an open chance in the final 15 minutes, but Emma Houser forced the Jacksonville goalkeeper to make a save with nine seconds remaining in regulation. However, the JU goalkeeper rose to the occasion to force overtime for both teams.
The overtime period marked the third straight overtime session for the Bulldogs.
Jacksonville had a solid chance to put the match away in the 97th minute as Joelle d'Entremont – Jacksonville's leading goal scorer prior to the match - put a shot on goal, but freshman goalkeeper Bryson Lee made the save to keep the score level.
With less than 10 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, midfielder Naber again rose to the occasion as she hooked in the golden goal for the Bulldogs. The goal was her fourth of the season and her second golden goal in the last three games.
In the previous three matches, Naber has accounted for all four of her goals on the year. The four goals ties the second-most goals scored by Naber in a single season, and she is one goal away from tying a single-season career high, which she set in 2015 (5 goals).
Milestones
"It was a hard-fought game today against a tough opponent on the road. It was a testament to the players for a relentless pursuit they showcased on the field.
Zoe Lewis had a great goal today, and her energy was excellent as she pressed their backline the entire game.
We also had an opportunity to celebrate Caroline Houser after the game. With her assist today, she became the all-time career assist leader at UNC Asheville. What a milestone for her career and to share it with her teammates in such celebratory fashion was incredible to be a part of today.
It's been a long weekend for this group. They found a way to win with a tough travel schedule. I think they revealed their identity today by closing another overtime game out. I am really proud of these players."
- Head Coach Demko -
What's Next
UNC Asheville returns to Asheville on Sunday, Sept. 3 as the Bulldogs square off with UAB at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Field.
Senior Caroline Houser broke the program record for career assists as she assisted Zoe Lewis in the 34th minute for the first goal of the game.
BULLDOG BITES
How It Happened
The Bulldogs didn't take a shot for over 33 minutes, but when they did, they made it count.
After generating a turnover, Caroline Houser dished a pass off to Lewis in the 34th minute, who placed it in the left side of the net for the second goal of her career. With the assist, Houser moved into first in program history with 23 career assists.
Asheville continued to put shots on frame as Emma Houser and Naber each accounted for a shot on goal within the final seven minutes of the first half.
Five minutes into the second half, Jacksonville took a shot, but a Bulldog blocked the attempt, which gave the Dolphins a corner kick. In the team's fourth corner of the match, Meagan Gruber took advantage as she put a header in the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.
For the next five minutes, the Bulldog defense fended off a flurry of shots as the 'Phins took four shots with a pair on goal.
Neither team had an open chance in the final 15 minutes, but Emma Houser forced the Jacksonville goalkeeper to make a save with nine seconds remaining in regulation. However, the JU goalkeeper rose to the occasion to force overtime for both teams.
The overtime period marked the third straight overtime session for the Bulldogs.
Jacksonville had a solid chance to put the match away in the 97th minute as Joelle d'Entremont – Jacksonville's leading goal scorer prior to the match - put a shot on goal, but freshman goalkeeper Bryson Lee made the save to keep the score level.
With less than 10 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, midfielder Naber again rose to the occasion as she hooked in the golden goal for the Bulldogs. The goal was her fourth of the season and her second golden goal in the last three games.
In the previous three matches, Naber has accounted for all four of her goals on the year. The four goals ties the second-most goals scored by Naber in a single season, and she is one goal away from tying a single-season career high, which she set in 2015 (5 goals).
Milestones
- Caroline Houser is UNC Asheville's all-time leader in career all-time assists after assisting Lewis in the first goal of the match.
- Head coach Michelle Demko is two wins away from 50 career victories.
- Asheville finished the month of August going 3-1, which makes the Bulldogs 14-4 in August since 2013.
- Naber's golden goal marks the second overtime goal for the senior in the previous three matches.
- The 3-1 start to the season is the best start since 2015 where UNC Asheville went 7-2 in its first nine matches.
"It was a hard-fought game today against a tough opponent on the road. It was a testament to the players for a relentless pursuit they showcased on the field.
Zoe Lewis had a great goal today, and her energy was excellent as she pressed their backline the entire game.
We also had an opportunity to celebrate Caroline Houser after the game. With her assist today, she became the all-time career assist leader at UNC Asheville. What a milestone for her career and to share it with her teammates in such celebratory fashion was incredible to be a part of today.
It's been a long weekend for this group. They found a way to win with a tough travel schedule. I think they revealed their identity today by closing another overtime game out. I am really proud of these players."
- Head Coach Demko -
What's Next
UNC Asheville returns to Asheville on Sunday, Sept. 3 as the Bulldogs square off with UAB at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Field.
Team Stats
AVL
JU
Goals
2
1
Shots
11
15
Shots on Goal
7
6
Saves
5
5
Corners
3
9
Fouls
5
8
Scoring Plays
LEWIS, Zoe (1)
Assisted By: HOUSER, Caroline
Slow roller past GK into net left
33:51
GRUBER, Meagan (1)
Assisted By: CLOUTIER, Kyra
header off a corner on right side of goa
51:04
NABER,Courtney (4)
Assisted By: HOUSER, Emma
Shot from just beyond the 18 hooked in o
99:53
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerMF
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