UNCW wins in soccer, advances to CAA semis, CFCC falls in region finals

WILMINGTON, NC (CFCC) — Trailing by one goal in the second half, Spartanburg Methodist erupted for three scores and handed Cape Fear CC a 3-1 season ending setback at Legion Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Alyssa Coustenis scored a break-away goal off a nice feed from Jenna Pecorini to put the Sea Devils ahead, but Spartanburg Methodist rallied to grab the Region X Championship.

“It is always tough for anyone who is invested in something, when it ends,” said CFCC Coach Ryan Deppa. “I feel for the players who made that investment, as I know this is a difficult way to go out. I’m very confident that our freshman will remember how this went down and come back in 2016 and play with the hunger and desire that is needed to complete this task.”

Cape Fear ended the year 11-7 overall after clinching regular season conference championship.

“We have a very talented group to build around for 2016,” Deppa added.  “I’m confident we have an opportunity to get back to this spot next year. Spartanburg worked hard for the entire 90 minutes and made it very difficult for us to play. They earned the win.”

Spartanburg clinched a spot in the District L game against Harford (MD) next week, with a chance to earn a bid to the NJCAA Tournament in Melbourne, Fla.

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WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) — Senior forward Maddie McCormick scored two goals and added an assist as third-seeded UNCW advanced to the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Soccer Championship with a 4-0 victory over sixth-seeded Delaware at UNCW Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Seahawks, who improved to 14-5-1 on the season, will face second-seeded William & Mary in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 6 at Hofstra Soccer Stadium. The Blue Hens’ season ends with an 8-9-2 record.

The Seahawks’ leading scorer, McCormick gave UNCW a quick 1-0 lead in the eighth minute when she scored off a pass from senior forward Katrina Guillou.

Just four minutes into the second half, Guillou upped the advantage to 2-0 when she tallied her 10th goal of the year off assists from McCormick and junior goalkeeper Carolyn Huddy.

After McCormick extended the margin to 3-0 in the 65th minute, senior midfielder Lindsey Byrne added an insurance goal with 1:33 remaining for a 4-0 edge.

Led by Huddy, the Seahawks posted a school-record fourth consecutive shutout as UNCW outshot Delaware by a commanding 16-4 margin. Huddy made two saves while posting her ninth shutout of the season.

Seahawk Storylines

• The Seahawks set a school record by winning their 14th game of the season. The previous record of 13 wins was set in 2006 and 2009.

• After opening the year with a 1-3-0 record, UNCW is 13-2-1 in its last 16 games and has outscored its opponents by a 43-11 margin with nine shutouts.

• The Seahawks scored two or more goals for the 16th time this year, including the 14th time in the last 15 games. UNCW is 13-2-1 this year when scoring two or more goals.

• UNCW has not allowed a goal in the last 413 minutes, 27 seconds, which also sets a school record.

• The Seahawks finished their home schedule with a 7-0-1 mark, becoming the first Colonial Athletic Association team to go unbeaten at home since Drexel in 2012.

• In addition, it is the third time a UNCW soccer team has gone through a season without a home loss. The UNCW men’s soccer team posted undefeated home seasons in 1979 (8-0-2) and 2009 (10-0-2).

• UNCW’s senior class has accounted for 37 of the team’s 48 goals this year after all four goals were scored by seniors on Sunday.

• McCormick became the fourth player in UNCW history to reach 30 career goals with her two-goal effort on Sunday. She has now scored 31 goals in her college career, the fourth-highest total in school history.

• With her five-point effort on Sunday, McCormick also moved into fourth place in UNCW history with 77 career points.

• McCormick’s 33 points this season are the third-highest total in school history. Only Christy Timbers (46 points in 1988) and Stephanie Rose (40 points in 2012) have tallied more points in a single season.

• McCormick is also tied for second in school history with 14 goals this year, matching the 14 goals Rose scored during the 2012 season.
CAA Tournament Notes of Interest

• UNCW improved to 6-12-3 all-time in the CAA Tournament and earned its first win in the tournament since the 2009 championship game against James Madison.

• The Seahawks hosted their first CAA Tournament game since the 2012 quarterfinals against Delaware.

• The four goals scored by the Seahawks are the most in the team’s CAA Tournament history. It is the fourth time UNCW has scored three or more goals in a conference tournament game.

• McCormick became the second player in team history to score two goals in a CAA Tournament game. Christy Timbers had two goals in the Seahawks’ 1998 quarterfinal win over Old Dominion.

• McCormick’s five points are the most by a UNCW player in CAA Tournament history.

• The Seahawks earned their third CAA Tournament shutout with the 4-0 win over Delaware. UNCW previously posted a scoreless tie against East Carolina in the 1996 first round and had a 1-0 win over James Madison in the 2009 championship game.
What’s Ahead for the Seahawks:

Friday, Nov. 6 – CAA Semifinals vs. William & Mary (Time TBA) • Hofstra Soccer Stadium (Hempstead, N.Y.)

Sunday, Nov. 8 – CAA Championship vs. TBA (2:30 p.m.) • Hofstra Soccer Stadium (Hempstead, N.Y.)