Mike Gore's "40-for-40": 1995 Women's Soccer

I see where the UNC Asheville women's soccer team is off to a great start in 2025 despite being picked low in the preseason Big South rankings.

History could be repeating itself 30 years later.

In the 1995 season, not much was expected from the Bulldog women's soccer program. Asheville was a preseason pick for seventh place in the Big South Conference. Future Hall of Fame coach Michele Cornish was going into her second year as head coach of the Bulldog program. Asheville improved in 1994 in her first year as head coach but not too many folks took notice.

It was obvious to me after watching a few preseason practices that suddenly our young women's soccer program was a whole lot better. The program was re-established in 1992 and suffered through some growing pains but things were about to get a whole lot better.

There was a solid nucleus returning in goalkeeper Jill Young (a future UNC Asheville and Big South Hall of Famer), forward Krist Cummings (future UNC Asheville Hall of Famer), midfielder Lynae King and defender Jodi Winterton.

And Coach Cornish had turned to her Colorado roots to bring in some impressive recruits that would make an impact right away with the Bulldog program. Mackenzie Miller (a future UNC Asheville Hall of Famer) would start right away up front and make an impact right away. Rookie defenders Kerry Gaschler and Katrin Casey looked like seniors and were ready to play from the start.

I was optimistic that we could be competitive in 1995. And after the first weekend of the season, it was obvious the Bulldogs were going to be more than just competitive.

The 1995 campaign would begin with two home matches on Saturday and Sunday against UNC Wilmington and Davidson respectively. Both opponents expected easy wins. Both would be sent home with losses.

The season began with a 5-0 blanking of UNC Wilmington. Lynae King would dominate the match with a school-record four goals that still stands today.

Asheville would face a rather confident Davidson team the next day. The Wildcats indicated that they usually didn't play lesser teams than them because it hurt their power ranking.

Well Davidson's power ranking took a big hit when the Bulldogs edged the Wildcats, 2-1. Freshman Mackenzie Miller would score the first of her school-record 16 goals midway through the second half to give the Bulldogs the win. Jill Young would stop a Davidson PK late in the match to preserve the victory.

The winning continued throughout the season. Asheville routed Louisville 3-0. They beat Radford for the first time ever, 2-0.

Even in losses the Bulldogs were competitive. Asheville went toe-to-toe with nationally ranked Wake Forest before falling 2-0 on two goals in the final five minutes. Big South power UNC Greensboro came to Greenwood Field and had to hold off the Bulldogs, 3-2.

The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 14-5-0 overall record and 5-1-0 league record. Asheville finished in second place and headed to the Big South Tournament in Greensboro, anxious to continue its magical season. Michele Cornish was named Big South Coach of the Year.

The Bulldogs earned a bye into the semifinals where they would face UMBC. Asheville had edged the Retrievers on the road, 2-1 a few weeks earlier. They publicly said they couldn't wait to play Asheville again.

Be careful what you wish for. The Bulldogs broke a scoreless tie with three second-half goals to roll into the finals 3-0.

Awaiting Asheville was preseason favorite and defending champion UNC Greensboro. The Spartans were nationally ranked and fully expected to win and get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

UNCG dominated early but Asheville goalkeeper Jill Young was magnificent keeping the Spartans off the scoreboard. In the second half, the tide turned. The Bulldogs picked up the pace and began putting pressure on the home team. Miller took a shot that was stopped and freshman Ashley Hart was there to poke home the rebound and score to put the Bulldogs in front 1-0.

There were still 23 minutes left. Asheville's defense clamped down. UNCG would try and threaten but the Bulldogs simply would not be denied. It might have been the longest 23 minutes of Michele's career but when the final horn went off, the Bulldogs were champions!!!

Sophomore midfielder Alison Gehringer (future UNC Asheville Hall of Famer) and Jill Young were named Co-MVPs. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 16-5-0 overall record. 16 wins is a school record that stands even to this day.

It was a day I'll never forget as we celebrated our first soccer championship. I also remember that team as it showed the whole athletic department that UNC Asheville could win at the highest level. They inspired all the Bulldog teams.

So I'm hoping for the 2025 team to remember the spirit of the 1995 squad. Preseason polls mean nothing. Good luck Bulldogs in 2025!!!

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Mike Gore's "40-for-40": 1995 Women's Soccer

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