Box Score
CHARLESTON, S.C. –– Coming off one of the program's biggest wins during head coach
Greg Ashton's four-year tenure on Friday over Vanderbilt, the Davidson women's soccer team one-upped themselves with a convincing 3-0 win over previously unbeaten LSU on Sunday afternoon on the final day of the College of Charleston Tournament at the CofC soccer complex.
Davidson wrapped up the two-day tournament with a perfect 2-0 mark by taking down two SEC schools in Vanderbilt and LSU. It was the Wildcats' first-ever win against the Tigers as they ran their winning streak to three games, improving to 4-3 on the season. The two wins over Vanderbilt and LSU gave the women's soccer program its third and fourth all-time against SEC schools.
LSU, who defeated CofC (4-0) Friday night and had a school-best tying 10-game unbeaten streak coming into the contest, fell to 6-1-2 overall. The Tigers were one of only 12 teams nationally still unbeaten in 2007 and as of last Tuesday, ranked eighth in the Central Regional poll according to soccerbuzz.com.
“The ladies were just awesome this weekend,” exclaimed head coach Greg Ashton. “To get a win, plus a shutout against a team of this caliber, is tremendous for our team and the women's soccer program. What won us the game today was every one of our players' tireless efforts throughout the whole afternoon.”
After getting shutout in back-to-back games two weeks ago and scoring only two goals through their first four games, the Wildcat offense has been on a roll. They have now netted eight goals in the past three games to push their season total to 10.
That offensive outburst was on display again Sunday afternoon. Sophomore
Courtney Hart (Ashland, Mass.) started the scoring in the 30th minute thanks to a long pass from freshman
Allison Drutchas (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) off a free kick. Drutchas drove the ball from 40 yards out off the free kick to the far post, where Hart was there to strike it into the top corner of the goal for her first score of the season.
Davidson's defense then turned up the intensity, frustrating LSU all afternoon. The defense earned their second shutout of the season and the 21st for the Wildcats in the past three years.
“Our team defense was the best its been all season,” said Ashton. “We were able to weather the first 15 minutes of LSU attacking at full force, and started to get into our game plan. The team's ability to keep the ball when we won possessions, frustrated them (the Tigers) all afternoon and I was very happy with our efforts.”
The sophomore duo of
Lauren Conner (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) and
Kyri Bye-Nagel (Hanau, Germany), who have led the Wildcats offensive outburst the past three games with a combined four goals and an assist, helped seal the win in the second half.
Senior
Kristen Koehrn (La Mesa, Calif.) earned her second assist of the year when she won a loose ball near the right corner flag on LSU's side of the field, sent a cross into the penalty box to a streaking Conner, who then volleyed the ball to the right side of the goal post at the 73:01 mark for her third score of the season.
Bye-Nagel then flashed her blazing speed just under two minutes later. The sophomore gathered in a ball just across the midfield line and raced past three LSU defenders on her way into the goalie box where she calmly slipped one past Valerie Vogler at the 74:54 mark for the final score and a 3-0 Wildcat win.
LSU held a 9-7 advantage in shots and picked up three corner kicks to Davidson's one.
Davidson will look to continue its hot streak by rolling into league play when it hosts Appalachian State on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
Scoring Summary
31:46 DAV Courtney Hart (Allison Drutchas)
73:01 DAV Lauren Conner (Kristen Koehrn)
74:54 DAV Kyri Bye-Nagel (unassisted)