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 Hailey Beam, Charlotte |
Nov. 11, 2007
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Sophomore Hailey Beam tallied a goal and assist and top-seeded Charlotte held off a strong Fordham rally to earn a 3-2 win in the finals of the 2007 Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer Championship on Sunday at the 49ers' Transamerica Field.
It marked Charlotte's (16-4-1) first-ever A-10 women's soccer crown and as a result earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Vying for its first-ever A-10 title, second-seeded Fordham (10-5-5) finished runner-up for the second consecutive year.
"What a tremendous soccer game," Charlotte coach Jon Lipsitz said. "Certainly the best first half that we have played all year.We have struggled at times to start fast, and I have been challenging them that we're wasting minutes early in games that could win games. We certainly needed every minute of that first half to survive what Fordham did to us in the second half. There were tremendous adjustments in the second half by their staff. We knew that they were going to press everything forward because they had nothing to lose. Early in the second half, we thought we could catch them for a third goal and that would end it, but after that, we were under siege and credit to them that it became that type of game. It was a tremendous soccer game. I can't imagine anyone watching that game and not love women's soccer. I have been ranting and raving all year about the level of play in this Conference."
Charlotte scored the game first three goals and then Fordham put the 49ers under a great deal of pressure after scoring the final two goals of the game.
The 49ers got on the board first when Beam heaaed Whitney Weinraub's cross from the left side of the field into the right side of the goal in the 11th minute. Beam's goal was her third of the season.
Charlotte added to their lead when Sara Jane Harris scored her first goal of the season when she headed Beam's cross from the right side of the field into the top middle of the goal in the 30th minute.
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Charlotte made the score, 3-0, when Nikki Dumencich headed her fourth goal of the season into the back of the net off a Lindsey Ozimek cross in the 51st minute. Then, Fordham who had only one shot in the first 53 minutes of the game began to put the 49ers under a great deal of pressure.
Fordham scored their first goal when Katie Sanchez took a shot that deflected off a Charlotte defender to Michelle Ancelj. Ancelj on the left side of the box shot the ball from ten yards out toward the far post into the net for her fourth goal of the season in the 59th minute.
Then, the Rams cut Charlotte's lead in half when Katie McDermott headed in Catherine Huvane's cross in the 80th minute. McDermott's goal was her fourth goal of the season.
"That's our trademark, to just play soccer and not watch the scoreboard," Fordham coach Ness Selmani said. "I am so proud of this team because the effort in the second half was unbelievable and that's all I can ask for."
The 49ers finished the game with an 18-14 advantage in shots. Beam and Ozimek paced the 49ers with four shots. While, Dumencich recorded three shots for Charlotte. Rachel Mees added two shots to the 49ers attack. Fordham's Ancelj paced the Rams with six shots. While, Erica Frizzell added four shots to the Rams attack. Fordham's Sanchez and McDermott each had two shots apiece for the Rams.
With the Atlantic 10 Championship, the 49ers earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA field will be announced on ESPNNews on Monday, Nov. 12 at 8:00pm.
All-Championship Team
Charlotte - Hailey Beam
Charlotte - Lauren Brown
Charlotte - Lindsey Ozimek
Charlotte - Whitney Bryant
Fordham - Michelle Ancelj
Fordham - Courtney Fedge
Dayton - Nikki Reed
Dayton - Courtney Sirmans
Richmond - Kate Hudson
Richmond - Jessie Wolfe
Saint Louis - Cassi Winchell
Most Outstanding Player: Hailey Beam, Charlotte
