UTC Soccer Team Logs First Ever Win Against Furman in Over 30 Games
(gomocs.com) GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Chattanooga Mocs didn’t take long to score Thursday night at Furman, but it took an eternity to make history.
“Hard fought match and well deserved result,” Chattanooga head coach Gavin McKinney said. “The girls were fantastic, battling for the full 90 minutes.”
Zoey Mize struck the far post on what looked to be a pass into the box, instead became the game winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Furman in Greenville, S.C. The win was the first by UTC over the Paladins in program history. The Mocs and Furman tied in each of the last two meetings, extending Chattanooga’s unbeaten streak against Furman to three games.
The win snapped Furman’s nine-game unbeaten streak and extended Chattanooga’s win streak to three games this season, all by shutout.
Mize took a throw in from Hannah Opie and spun away from the Furman defender and going low. Near the touch line, just outside the penalty area she kicked the ball into the box with her left foot and the shot hit off the far post and bounced in for the score in the eighth minute.
Chattanooga controlled the majority of the game. UTC outshot Furman 11-9, but had a 6-1 shots on goal advantage and eight corner kicks compared to two for the Paladins. Caroline Richvalsky had a game-high four shots with two on goal while Sophia Mize and Clarissa Salinas each had two shots.
Sophia Mize shot from distance and nearly snuck the ball in just under the bar in the second half, but Furman’s keeper got a hand on it, pushing it out of play.
Caroline Ekern may have had just one save, but she grabbed several passes in the to keep the Paladins away from any chance of scoring.
“Now we need to keep building on this momentum as we head to VMI Sunday,” McKinney said. “The squad is improving with every game and we’re looking forward to the next challenge.”
The Mocs travel to Lexington, Va., for a Sunday match against VMI. UTC moved up in the Southern Conference standings to a tie with UNCG for third. Samford defeated Mercer (4-2) to move into a tie with Western Carolina for first after the Catamounts match against ETSU ended in a scoreless draw.
NOTES
• Chattanooga shutout Furman 1-0. This was the first win for UTC over Furman in program history. The Mocs’ record against the Paladins is 1-29-2.
• UTC has a three-game unbeaten streak against the Paladins. 1-0-2 over the last three years.
• The win snapped the Paladins nine-game unbeaten streak (6-0-3) and extended UTC’s win streak to three games. Third straight shutout.
• Second game winning goal by Zoey Mize this season, third of her career.
• Caroline Ekern notched 21st career win. Second all-time at UTC behind Stacey Matthiessen (’06) who has 30 wins.
• 14th career shutout. Tied with Rawlsly Ray (’22) for third all-time. Enters top 10 on the single season chart with fourth shutout this season.
• Seven Chattanooga players played all 90 minutes.
