University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Sunday, September 22
Asheville, NC
2 pm
UNC Asheville
2-7-1, 0-0-0
7
vs
2
South Carolina State
0-12-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
South Carolina St.
1
1
2
UNC Asheville
1
6
7
McNabb's Hat Trick Powers Asheville Past South Carolina State
09.22.2024 | Women's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Freshman Mercedes McNabb's hat trick powered Asheville past South Carolina State 7-2 on Sunday (Sept. 22) at Greenwood Field.
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The hat trick marks the first for the Bulldogs since Apr. 21, 2021 when Skylar Chillson scored three goals in a 4-2 win over Gardner-Webb, also marking the second hat trick scored in the Big South Conference this season. McNabb becomes the second freshman in program history to record a hat trick, and the first since 2002 (Hilary McKay). Asheville's seven goals are the most for the program in a single match since Oct. 17, 2001 when the Bulldogs trounced The Citadel 10-2.
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South Carolina State would strike first in the sixth minute when Daija White dropped one in off the cross bar off a free kick, but Asheville would not take long to respond. McNabb would score her first of the match in the 11th minute, stashing home a set piece off a free kick from Julia Hüsch. The teams would go to the half tied 1-1, despite Asheville outshooting South Carolina State 10-6 in the frame and earning three corner kicks to South Carolina State's none.
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In the 49th minute, a run to the outside saw the ball find the head of Ava Bjorkman-Tracy, who played it forward for Alexa Francis, who touched it past South Carolina State's keeper for her first goal as a Bulldog for a 2-1 Asheville lead. Just four minutes later, a run down the middle for Akari Kishida created a chance as she played a ball up the wing to McNabb who took one touch to blast it to the right corner of the net for her second of the match and her first career multi-goal game. Asheville extended its lead in the 63rd minute, when Kylie Kroese crossed a ball into the middle finding the foot of Bjorkman-Tracy, who scored her third of the season and third of her career to push the lead to 4-1. Asheville's fifth goal came in the 70th minute, when Asheville was pushing through the middle at the feet of Daysha Chaney. Chaney touched the ball back to Addie Cooper, who lofted a shot from a good distance out to find the top of the net for her first goal of the season and first as a Bulldog along with the second of her collegiate career. South Carolina State would score their second goal off another free kick from White, with the goal being her second of the season. McNabb completed the hat trick in the 83rd minute off an assist from Cooper, again just taking one touch to torch the twine. Asheville brought the match to its final score with a goal from Taylor Gardner off an assist from Kroese, Gardner's first of the season and 16th of her Asheville career.
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Asheville outshot South Carolina State 20-11 in the match, including 13-4 in shots on goal. Asheville also held South Carolina State without a corner kick in the match, while earning five as a team. McNabb paced the offense with a career-high four shots, while Kishida and Cooper each had three with Kishida registering a new career-high. Azalea Mihailovich, Francis and Nao Kawasaki each had two shots in the contest, with Francis notching a new career-high. Bjorkman-Tracy, Manuela Schreier, Gardner and Luca Holzl Tranchoni each also tallied one shot in the match. Alison Little made two saves between the pipes, picking up her second win of the season. Â
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The Bulldogs return to the pitch on Saturday (Sept. 28) to open Big South Conference play against Charleston Southern on Alumni Weekend. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. from Greenwood Field, with video and live stats available at www.uncabulldogs.com.
About Women's Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank
First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $12.4 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 118 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.
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The hat trick marks the first for the Bulldogs since Apr. 21, 2021 when Skylar Chillson scored three goals in a 4-2 win over Gardner-Webb, also marking the second hat trick scored in the Big South Conference this season. McNabb becomes the second freshman in program history to record a hat trick, and the first since 2002 (Hilary McKay). Asheville's seven goals are the most for the program in a single match since Oct. 17, 2001 when the Bulldogs trounced The Citadel 10-2.
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South Carolina State would strike first in the sixth minute when Daija White dropped one in off the cross bar off a free kick, but Asheville would not take long to respond. McNabb would score her first of the match in the 11th minute, stashing home a set piece off a free kick from Julia Hüsch. The teams would go to the half tied 1-1, despite Asheville outshooting South Carolina State 10-6 in the frame and earning three corner kicks to South Carolina State's none.
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In the 49th minute, a run to the outside saw the ball find the head of Ava Bjorkman-Tracy, who played it forward for Alexa Francis, who touched it past South Carolina State's keeper for her first goal as a Bulldog for a 2-1 Asheville lead. Just four minutes later, a run down the middle for Akari Kishida created a chance as she played a ball up the wing to McNabb who took one touch to blast it to the right corner of the net for her second of the match and her first career multi-goal game. Asheville extended its lead in the 63rd minute, when Kylie Kroese crossed a ball into the middle finding the foot of Bjorkman-Tracy, who scored her third of the season and third of her career to push the lead to 4-1. Asheville's fifth goal came in the 70th minute, when Asheville was pushing through the middle at the feet of Daysha Chaney. Chaney touched the ball back to Addie Cooper, who lofted a shot from a good distance out to find the top of the net for her first goal of the season and first as a Bulldog along with the second of her collegiate career. South Carolina State would score their second goal off another free kick from White, with the goal being her second of the season. McNabb completed the hat trick in the 83rd minute off an assist from Cooper, again just taking one touch to torch the twine. Asheville brought the match to its final score with a goal from Taylor Gardner off an assist from Kroese, Gardner's first of the season and 16th of her Asheville career.
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Asheville outshot South Carolina State 20-11 in the match, including 13-4 in shots on goal. Asheville also held South Carolina State without a corner kick in the match, while earning five as a team. McNabb paced the offense with a career-high four shots, while Kishida and Cooper each had three with Kishida registering a new career-high. Azalea Mihailovich, Francis and Nao Kawasaki each had two shots in the contest, with Francis notching a new career-high. Bjorkman-Tracy, Manuela Schreier, Gardner and Luca Holzl Tranchoni each also tallied one shot in the match. Alison Little made two saves between the pipes, picking up her second win of the season. Â
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The Bulldogs return to the pitch on Saturday (Sept. 28) to open Big South Conference play against Charleston Southern on Alumni Weekend. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. from Greenwood Field, with video and live stats available at www.uncabulldogs.com.
About Women's Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank
First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $12.4 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 118 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.
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Team Stats
SCS
AVL
Goals
2
7
Shots
11
20
Shots on Goal
4
13
Saves
6
2
Corners
0
5
Fouls
6
9
Scoring Plays
Daijah White (2)
GOAL by SCS White, Daijah.
05:24
Mercedes McNabb (4)
Assisted By: Julia Hüsch
GOAL by AVL McNabb, Mercedes Assist by Hüsch, Julia.
11:13
Alexa Francis (1)
Assisted By: Ava Bjorkman-Tracy
GOAL by AVL Francis, Alexa Assist by Bjorkman-Tracy, Ava.
48:18
Mercedes McNabb (4)
Assisted By: Akari Kishida
GOAL by AVL McNabb, Mercedes Assist by Kishida, Akari.
52:02
Ava Bjorkman-Tracy (3)
Assisted By: Kylie Kroese
GOAL by AVL Bjorkman-Tracy, Ava Assist by Kroese, Kylie.
62:57
Addie Cooper (1)
Assisted By: Daysha Chaney
GOAL by AVL Cooper, Addie Assist by Chaney, Daysha.
69:51
Daijah White (2)
GOAL by SCS White, Daijah.
80:59
Mercedes McNabb (4)
Assisted By: Addie Cooper
GOAL by AVL McNabb, Mercedes Assist by Cooper, Addie.
82:56
Taylor Gardner (1)
Assisted By: Kylie Kroese
GOAL by AVL Gardner, Taylor Assist by Kroese, Kylie.
84:38
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
SOG
4
Goals
3
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
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