Nov. 5, 2006

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Shannon Donovan netted two goals and assisted on another as UNC Greensboro defeated Furman 3-1 to claim the Southern Conference Women's Soccer Championship Sunday afternoon at the Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee, N.C.

UNC Greensboro opened the scoring in the sixth minute on Donovan's 25-yard strike. The SoCon Player-of-the-Year and tournament's most valuable player gathered a loose ball and laced a driving shot into the lower lefthand corner to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.

Donovan pushed the lead to 2-0 at 11:36 on a penalty kick. After a Spartan striker was pulled down at the top of the 18-yard box, Donovan deposited the spot kick into the upper lefthand corner for her second goal of the match.

Furman trimmed the advantage to one at 65:34 on a Margaret Antonik corner kick. The freshman served the ball into the box and Sara El-Shami flicked it forward before Anna Betton headed the ball into the top-side netting from two yards. The goal marked Betton's league-leading 14th tally of the season.

Donovan helped the Spartans cap the scoring and dash Furman's hopes of a comeback at 88:38. The senior sent a pass wide to the left that the Furman defender failed to clear on a lunging effort. Kelly Attayek dribbled into the box uncontested and slotted a shot to the right side to beat Furman goalkeeper Briana da Mota to up the lead to 3-1.

"I was proud of our team for not quitting and staying focused after falling behind early," said Furman head coach Andrew Burr. "UNC Greensboro is a quality opponent and will represent the Southern Conference well at the NCAA Tournament."

The win marked UNCG's fourth SoCon Finals victory over Furman in four tries. The finals appearance was Furman's fifth consecutive with the Lady Paladins having won in 2002 and 2004.

UNCG held a 15-13 edge in shot attempts and 5-4 advantage in corner kicks. Junior Katherine Ryan stopped 10 shots in goal for the Spartans while da Mota saved two shots for the Lady Paladins.

Junior Anna Betton, who netted a goal in each of Furman's three tournament games, joined Antonik and Fry in representing Furman on the all-tournament team.