University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, August 23
Asheville, NC
6:00 PM
UNC Asheville
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vs
2
American
0-0-0, 0-0-0
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F
American
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UNC Asheville
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Bulldogs Drop Season Opener to American
08.23.2019 | Women's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville women's soccer team fell, 2-0, to American in their season opener Friday night at Greenwood Field.
The Bulldogs had their first scoring opportunity only seven minutes into the game when Redshirt Freshman, Courtney McCluskey, attempted a shot that was saved by the American goalkeeper.
Just before the 20 minute mark, American was on the attack with three shot attempts in the span of a minute but all three came up short. A fourth shot attempt with 20 minutes left in the first half was saved by Bulldog goalkeeper, Courtney O'Malley.
Bulldog Junior Chloe Lamenzo was blocked on her first shot attempt, while Skyler Chillson's shot attempt in minute 27 was saved.
American would break through with a goal by Keelin Ferris with three minutes left in the first half to take a 1-0 advantage going into halftime.
The Bulldogs tried to swing the momentum back their way in the beginning of the second half with their offensive aggression. American struggled to get the ball back on their side of the field for the first fifteen minutes of the half as the Bulldogs kept the pressure on the American defense.
American broke through with their second goal of the game when Charly Slavick hit the back of the net with six minutes to go in the second half.
The 2-0 score would hold as American took the victory over the Bulldogs.
Cliff Notes
On the defensive effort in the first half:
"I think individually we were good in defending one vs. one and winning battles in the first half," head coach Clifton Bush said. "Unfortunately I think organizationally the quality wasn't there and that's what kind of cost us in defending moments back to front, to keep it organized and keep everything steady. We have applauded the individual battle winning already in the locker room but as a team we have got to bring it together so that we can go into the half with a clean sheet. Defensively, giving up a goal on a set piece four or five minutes before the end of the half is a real gut punch so we have got to be cleaner and stronger in those moments. We have to give ourselves a real chance to get into the break with a bit of a different momentum.
On the offensive aggression to start the second half:
We have a young team at the and it's not an excuse but it is a process of understanding what we do well and what our identity is at the end of the day. We are a team that is athletic, we are a team that is aggressive and we are a team that likes to play the protagonist at the end of the day. I don't think we were executing that in the attacking end in the first half and the message to them during the half was basically that they have to express their personality and their ability to get forward. Can we maybe play slightly more direct? Can we be the team that can be both possession based and over the top? That was the learning period over the fifteen minutes of halftime. I think we executed it much better. We went out to try and get a result here on our home field and obviously we opened up and it cost us a bit on the defensive end but I think we saw what we needed to see in order to take a look at our opponents going down the road."
Up Next
The Bulldogs will travel to Johnson City, Tenn. to face off with ETSU, Sunday, August 25, at 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs had their first scoring opportunity only seven minutes into the game when Redshirt Freshman, Courtney McCluskey, attempted a shot that was saved by the American goalkeeper.
Just before the 20 minute mark, American was on the attack with three shot attempts in the span of a minute but all three came up short. A fourth shot attempt with 20 minutes left in the first half was saved by Bulldog goalkeeper, Courtney O'Malley.
Bulldog Junior Chloe Lamenzo was blocked on her first shot attempt, while Skyler Chillson's shot attempt in minute 27 was saved.
American would break through with a goal by Keelin Ferris with three minutes left in the first half to take a 1-0 advantage going into halftime.
The Bulldogs tried to swing the momentum back their way in the beginning of the second half with their offensive aggression. American struggled to get the ball back on their side of the field for the first fifteen minutes of the half as the Bulldogs kept the pressure on the American defense.
American broke through with their second goal of the game when Charly Slavick hit the back of the net with six minutes to go in the second half.
The 2-0 score would hold as American took the victory over the Bulldogs.
Cliff Notes
On the defensive effort in the first half:
"I think individually we were good in defending one vs. one and winning battles in the first half," head coach Clifton Bush said. "Unfortunately I think organizationally the quality wasn't there and that's what kind of cost us in defending moments back to front, to keep it organized and keep everything steady. We have applauded the individual battle winning already in the locker room but as a team we have got to bring it together so that we can go into the half with a clean sheet. Defensively, giving up a goal on a set piece four or five minutes before the end of the half is a real gut punch so we have got to be cleaner and stronger in those moments. We have to give ourselves a real chance to get into the break with a bit of a different momentum.
On the offensive aggression to start the second half:
We have a young team at the and it's not an excuse but it is a process of understanding what we do well and what our identity is at the end of the day. We are a team that is athletic, we are a team that is aggressive and we are a team that likes to play the protagonist at the end of the day. I don't think we were executing that in the attacking end in the first half and the message to them during the half was basically that they have to express their personality and their ability to get forward. Can we maybe play slightly more direct? Can we be the team that can be both possession based and over the top? That was the learning period over the fifteen minutes of halftime. I think we executed it much better. We went out to try and get a result here on our home field and obviously we opened up and it cost us a bit on the defensive end but I think we saw what we needed to see in order to take a look at our opponents going down the road."
Up Next
The Bulldogs will travel to Johnson City, Tenn. to face off with ETSU, Sunday, August 25, at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
AMU
AVL
Goals
2
0
Shots
16
7
Shots on Goal
9
4
Saves
4
7
Corners
4
5
Fouls
5
0
Scoring Plays
Keelin Ferris (1)
Assisted By: Juliana Saling
GOAL by AMU Ferris, Keelin Assist by Saling, Juliana.
41:15
Charly Slavick (1)
Assisted By: Juliana Saling
GOAL by AMU Slavick, Charly Assist by Saling, Juliana.
84:53
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's SoccerMidfielder
/ Women's SoccerForward
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
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