Furman Slips Past UNC Asheville In Overtime, 2-1

September 10, 2008

Greenville, S.C. ­ Senior Rachel Fry blasted a shot into the upper right-hand corner in the 97th minute to give the Furman women’s soccer team a 2-1 victory over UNC Asheville in overtime Wednesday night at Stone Stadium.

Fry’s 23-yard goal was her second game winner in five days and 12th of her Furman career. The Gambrills, Md., native netted the winning goal in the 88th minute of Friday’s 2-1 win versus Francis Marion.

Junior Sara El-Shami put the Paladins out in front just before the hour mark bending her corner out of the reach of UNCA goalkeeper Veronica Lazar and into the back of the net for her first goal of the season at 59:01.

The Bulldogs, who were outshot 29-6 on the night, produced an equalizer at the 82:41 mark. Lindsey Bragg’s cross from the left side found Leilani Halkiotis streaking towards goal down the middle of the field. Halkiotis fired a shot under charger keeper Jessica Smith near the penalty spot to
tie the game at 1-1.

Lucy Martin started the build up for the game-winner racing down the left side and sending a square ball to an unmarked Fry who line her shot past Lazar at 96:36.

Smith, a freshman from Franklin, Tenn., earned her first collegiate victory in goal while Lazar managed seven saves in the loss for the Bulldogs.

Furman improved to 3-1-1 on the season while UNCA dipped to 0-4-1.

The Paladins return to action Friday when they face regionally-ranked Kennesaw State in the Academy Sports Shootout in Spartanburg, S.C. at 5 p.m.


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