SALISBURY, N.C. — The 13th-ranked Catawba College women's soccer team put on a clinic in the 2026 season opener on Thursday night, rolling past Concord with a 5-0 blanking of the Mountain Lions at Frock Field.
Each of the Catawba Indians' (1-0) five goals were scored by a different player. Kate Robinson, Natalie Peterson, Bree Ehmer, Avery Rush and Ryen Gibbs found paydirt in the victory. Ella Matthews was credited with two assists after coming into the contest with just one dime in her previous three seasons. Cadence Setzer chipped in an assist, marking her first point in a Catawba uniform, to round out the offensive contributions. Lauren Zitt faced two shots and saved both, pocketing her second career win in as many starts.
Catawba held a significant advantage in attack, outshooting the Mountain Lions (0-1) by a hefty 23-4 margin including a 12-2 gap in on-target tries. Corner kick opportunities were abundant for the hosts who flexed a 14-1 lead; 10 of the Catawba Indians' corners came in the first half alone. The corner total fell one shy of matching last season's high, which was also achieved in a 5-0 non-conference win (10/22 vs. North Greenville).
The Catawba Indians' first shot of the day, fittingly, came on the contest's initial corner kick in the second minute. Concord added its first attempt a few minutes later, then Catawba went on a five-corner run in an under-five-minute span to no avail. Three more opportunities later, the pressing paid off when Robinson returned a ball back into the box toward goal. Ali Skinner, attempting to get a touch, screened a defender as the ball went through both players' legs and to the back of the net.
The blue and white struck again in the 24th minute thanks to Setzer finding an open Peterson at the top of the box and the New Yorker delivering a strong boot into the twine. Following Catawba's first round of substitutions, Ehmer joined in on the scoring with help from Matthews. Mounting physicality resulted in each team being shown a yellow card in the 33rd minute.
Shortly after the halftime break, Catawba was given its second yellow – a rarity for the program, exhibited by the Catawba Indians' total of five cards in 2025. Zitt faced her first test and passed, fending off a left-footer and diving on the rock to keep momentum fully on the hosts' side. Harper Dussouy put a shot on net in the 60th minute as Catawba resumed depriving Concord of decent chances. The Mountain Lions were issued their second and third yellows around Zitt's second save of the evening as the final 10 minutes commenced.
Gibbs, entering in the match's 82nd minute, wasted little time in firing a shot as she barely missed high shortly after taking the field. Rush directed a delivery on the target, setting up Catawba's 14th corner kick that nearly produced a goal if Concord defender Jadyn Munford had not filled an open net for a team save. Rush persisted, however, and finished off a Matthews pass through a crease in the Mountain Lion defense with 1:28 to go. With the final 10 seconds closing in, Gibbs had the keeper stranded on the edge of her line and sent a rolling shot into the expanse for the knockout blow.
The Catawba Indians make it 10 consecutive seasons beginning in the win column, outscoring opponents 27-5 in openers since 2017.
Catawba returns to action on Sunday, Aug. 30, in a morning meeting at Frock Field against Tampa. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.
POSTGAME COMMENTS (Head Coach Nick Brown and Natalie Peterson)
