October 31, 2001
CHARLESTON, SC -- The Furman women's soccer team claimed a share of the Southern Conference women's soccer regular season title in an 8-0 romp of The Citadel. The Lady Paladins have now earned three straight Southern Conference regular season titles.
Melissa Turner and Cristina Echavarry each recorded hat tricks while Kaye Brownlee and Katie Carson tied the Furman single game assist record with four assists on the match.
Melissa Turner opened the scoring with two goals in the first five minutes. Turner's first goal came just 35 seconds into the match as she beat the keeper one v. one after receiving a ball from Kaye Brownlee. Turner's second goal came at the 5:37 mark off an assist from Katie Carson and Kaye Brownlee. Cristina Echavarry scored her fourth career goal at the 17:05 mark off a cross from Turner.
Furman's fourth goal of the afternoon came at the 26:40 mark as Kaye Brownlee scored off a double assist from Cristina Echavarry and Lauren Killey. Furman held the 4-0 lead through the intermission.
Melissa Turner tallied her third goal of the night at the 49:28 mark as she knocked a ball far post after receiving a dish from Katie Carson. Cristina Echavarry added her second goal at the 61:09 mark off a double assist from Kaye Brownlee and Natalie Muro. Melissa Vogel then added a goal at the 75:32 mark off another Carson assist. Echavarry added her third goal at the 79:39 mark off an assist from Carson.
"I am extremely proud of this team," said Furman women's soccer coach Brian Lee. "With the number of injuries and difficult circumstances we have overcome this season, a SoCon championship means a lot. We have not had as strong of a regular season as in the past, but all of our goals are still intact for the season and I look forward to a competitive Southern Conference Tournament next week at Stone Stadium."
Furman outshot The Citadel 25 to four on the match.
Furman finished the season with a 8-2 league mark and will be the No. 2 seed in the SoCon Tournament to be held at Furman November 8-11. The Lady Paladins will open the tournament with a 5:00 p.m. match on Thursday, November 8 against the College of Charleston.
Furman improves to 12-6-1 on the year overall, while The Citadel wraps up its first season of women's soccer with a 2-18 overall record and an 0-11 league mark.
Scoring:
Shots: FU - 25 , CIT - 4
Corner Kicks: FU - 13, CIT - 0
Saves: FU - 1, CIT - 13
Fouls: FU - 5, CIT - 15