Sept. 13, 2013
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The WKU soccer team could not overcome two goals in the first eight minutes by Western Carolina's Kelly Pannell Friday night as the Lady Toppers dropped their road opener at the Catamount Sports Complex, 2-0.
Pannell scored off Markie Studnicky's throw-in in the sixth minute and found the back of the net two minutes later on an unassisted goal to provide Western Carolina (4-2-0) with the winning margin.
WKU (1-3-2) responded by firing 10 shots, three on goal, during the following 20 minutes after the Catamounts' second goal, but none wound up in the net. Senior Sydney Sisler had two good looks in the first half, missing wide on a corner kick header and firing a shot on goal from 25 yards out.
Chandler Clark nearly connected on a header off a Haley Baldridge corner kick as well, but Western Carolina's Jenny Lauer was there for the save. Caitlin Hesse had two scoring chances in the first half, missing wide on both of her shot attempts.
The Catamounts stiffened their defense in the second half and limited the Lady Toppers to just three shots. Baldridge missed just wide of the left post in WKU's best second-half look.
The Lady Toppers wound up outshooting Western Carolina 13-10, but the Catamounts two early-goals enabled them to lock in defensively and hold on for victory.
WKU returns to action Sunday when they take on Tennessee at 1 p.m. (CT). For tickets and more information on WKU Soccer, call 1-800-5 BIGRED or visit WKUSports.com.
