The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga fell 2-0 to Samford Friday night in Southern Conference women’s soccer action in the regular season home finale as the Mocs bid farewell to seniors Masey Fox and Molli Miller. Chattanooga is 8-6-2 overall and 4-2-1 against the conference. Samford improves to 9-5-1 on the year and 6-0-1 in league play.
Chattanooga was unable to capitalize on a 6-2 shots advantage in the first half that included a penalty kick attempt. Chloe Arnold’s PK try went high in the 27th minute that would have given the Mocs the lead.
“I thought we were really good in the first half,” Chattanooga head coach Gavin McKinney said.
“We created some chances. We defended well. “I kind of thought the first half went in our favor.”
Samford came out in the second half and got on the board in the 48th minute when Erin Bonner’s shot from inside the six-foot box hit off the inside top of the goal and landed behind the endline to make it 1-0.
It wouldn’t take long for the Bulldogs to get a second goal. Alyssa Frazier sent a pass to Ella Baggett down the right side. Baggett then sent a pass from the near post into the box, pulling UTC keeper Ashton Shields over enough for Caroline Orman to find the back of the net from just in front of the goal making it 2-0.
“The second half, they came out very strong and took a few chances early and then the game changes,” McKinney said. “Our girls kept fighting, kept battling. It just didn’t go our way.
“We played with great spirit from start to finish.”
The game was a strong defensive battle by both teams as UTC edged Samford 8-7 on shots and 5-2 on shots on goal.
Arnold had three shots for the Mocs, all on goal while Hollie Massey added two shots. Bonner led the Bulldogs with two shots and a goal.
The Mocs will close out the season on the road next week with a Friday night matchup at UNCG and the season finale at VMI Sunday afternoon.
“We need to bounce back,” McKinney said. “They are two difficult games. Greensboro has had a fantastic season so far. That will be a difficult one on a Friday night, but one that we're going to be ready for. And then, Sunday, turn around and go to VMI and you play them on the final day. A lot to play for, still. We're in a good position so we've got to go next weekend and look to pick up six points.
Just two points separate third-fifth in the league standings with UTC holding onto third after Friday’s games. ETSU is one point behind the Mocs in fourth and Mercer, with 11 points, is two behind Chattanooga in fifth.
Samford remains in first with a 6-0-1 record for 19 points and UNCG is one point behind in second with an undefeated mark at 6-0 for 18 points. The Spartans will host the Mocs Friday night and Samford on Sunday to close out the season with both UTC and the Bulldogs taking on VMI in the final weekend of play. ETSU and Mercer will play in Macon on Friday.
Follow all the action online at GoMocs.com as UTC heads toward a historic finish.