SMU W-Soccer Defeats Davidson
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DAVIDSON, N.C. (SMU) – The SMU Mustangs knew they’d need to apply pressure on Davidson, who hadn’t allowed a goal in its last three games. SMU did just that, scoring three times on its way to a 3-0 road win over the Wildcats on Friday night.
The Mustangs (3-2) earned their first road win of the season, and improved to 2-0 all-time against the Wildcats. Davidson (0-2-3) took seven shots but could not beat SMU goalkeeper Shannon Moroney, who earned her second-career solo shutout.
SMU’s offense needed to be great against a defensive-minded Davidson side, and Head Coach Chris Petrucelli’s players gave him a good performance.
“I thought we moved the ball well from the start,” Petrucelli said. “We really spread them out.”
SMU got on the board in the 23rd minute, with freshman Kelsey Gorney finding the back of the net for the third time in 2013. Jessica Bartol crossed the ball in the box and Gorney found the
opposite corner. Shelby Redman also earned an assist on the play.
Less than five minutes later, senior Courtney Smith found freshman Taylor Barg with a through ball that gave Barg an opportunity to shoot just inside the far post. The goal was Barg’s first in her collegiate career.
SMU took the 2-0 lead into halftime, then Redman would add to her team-leading goal total with a brilliant one-on-one play 62 minutes in. Redman too found the friendly far post, giving the Mustangs a 3-0 advantage. SMU recorded its second shutout of the young season, with Moroney making three saves.
“It was a team effort in defense, and we really made an effort to maintain possession of the ball,” Petrucelli said.
Smith’s assist gives her 21 for her career, tying her for 12th all-time at SMU.
The Mustangs will take on South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. at noon on Sunday. SMU returns home on Thursday when it hosts rival TCU at Westcott at 7 p.m.
