NEWBERRY, S.C. — The 12th-ranked Catawba College women's soccer team chalked up its third shutout of the season with a 2-0 vanquishing of Newberry in the squad's South Atlantic Conference opener on Saturday.
Phoebe Serkin ripped home her first career goal as Avery Rush tallied her second score of the season. Assists were credited to Cadence Setzer and Ella Matthews, marking each player's third of the year; they lead the team in helpers. Lauren Zitt saved the lone shot on goal fired by the hosts to claim her third victory in net.
Catawba (3-1, 1-0 SAC) overwhelmed the Wolves (0-1-1, 0-1 SAC) in shots with a 27-2 total margin and a 19-1 difference in on-target attempts. The Catawba Indians collected seven corner kick opportunities while Newberry failed to capitalize on its lone chance. The blue and white led the foul count 7-4, but the Wolves were hit with three yellow cards and a red, putting them down to 10 players for most of the second half.
Matthews took the first swing with an up-and-out delivery in the eighth minute. A Newberry caution was followed by shots from Bree Ehmer and Harper Dussouy, then Setzer found Serkin for the opening strike off a 19th-minute corner kick. Zitt was challenged and successfully dealt with an on-frame shot minutes later. Ehmer, Kennedy McGuire and Kaitlyn Johnson peppered the home goal with shots on target to no avail, keeping the gap at 1-0 through 45 minutes.
Following a quick barrage of Catawba Indian shots in the opening moments of the half, Newberry was shown a red card to make it 10-on-11. After a trio of corner kicks in quick succession, Rush booted in a feed from Matthews to install a multi-score advantage. The Catawba Indians hoped to add to their lead, but the third goal was exceedingly elusive as even a series of four shots on frame in as many minutes came up empty. Six on-target shots and two Newberry yellows later, the final whistle blew with Catawba taking a 2-0 triumph back to Salisbury.
The blue and white are undefeated in seven consecutive SAC openers. The result also had the same score as last year's league lidlifter — a 2-0 win over Carson-Newman.
The No. 12 Catawba Indians dip into non-conference action on Wednesday, Sept. 9, with another Palmetto State venture to Francis Marion. Kickoff against the Patriots is scheduled for 5 p.m.
