Late Rusher PK sends #13 Women’s Soccer to win in top-15 clash with #15 Embry-Riddle

Salisbury, N.C. —- The 13th-ranked Catawba College women's soccer team earned a statement win in the season-opener at Frock Field Friday night, overcoming a goal deficit in the final 20 minutes to defeat 15th-ranked Embry-Riddle in a top-15 matchup. Lillie Rusher's 86th-minute penalty kick put Catawba ahead for good in the closing minutes.

TEAM STATISTICS

- Embry-Riddle out-shot Catawba 16-13

- The Catawba Indians had nine shots on goal to the Eagles' six

- ERAU made six saves to four for Catawba

- The Eagles were called for 13 fouls to Catawba's 12

- ERAU got two of three yellow cards in the contest

- Embry-Riddle had six corner kicks to Catawba's five

- Both teams were called offside twice

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Rusher netted the winner on a penalty kick in the 86th minute

- Kelly Havens netted the first goal of the season for the Catawba Indians

- Kylie Morin followed up a penalty kick for a score

- Bree Ehmer got the assist on Morin's goal

- Ashley Hughes got the win in goal, making four saves

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

- The teams combined for five saves in a quality first half, but neither team was able for find the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes

SECOND HALF

- ERAU's Oona Jokinen made a great save on a Havens header, but the senior defender followed it up with the opening score of the 2024 campaign for Catawba in the 63rd minute

- Embry-Riddle's Wilma Bergman followed up with a score off a free kick just outside the box less than three minutes later to even the score

- The Eagles pulled ahead on another set piece just outside the box in the 72nd minute on Hattie Kettle's boot

- A penalty in the box on a corner kick gave Catawba an opportunity at the penalty spot just over two minutes later; Ehemer's PK was saved, but Morin beat everyone to the spot and followed it in for the equalizer

- Morgan Delair drew another foul in the penalty box in the game's final five minutes, allowing Rusher to send home the winner

GAME NOTES

- Catawba evens the all-time series versus ERAU at 1-1

- The Catawba Indians' highest-ranked non-conference victory since 2006

- Nick Brown's 102nd career victory, program's 392nd all-time

- All Catawba goals were scored by seniors; Havens (10th career), Rusher (7th), Morin (4th)

- Catawba has won its last eight season-openers, dating back to 2017

- Catawba Indians are 54-6-7 since the start of the 2021 season

- Catawba had one ranked win in a 13-year span (2006-19); five ranked wins since

UP NEXT

- Catawba turns its attention to Sunday, hosting Georgia College at 3 p.m. as part of the Chase Tripp Memorial Game