Lady Braves built on defense

By Joel Beachum
Staff Writer

Head coach Lars Andersson said that his Lady Braves seem to find a way to get things going later in their games.

That proof can be found in the statistics that show that out of the 43 goals scored by his team, 32 of them have come in the second half or overtime.

"I don't know what causes that. We have changed our warm-up routine. We are normally a slow starting team," Andersson said. "I wish that we could come out and play better early. We will try to continue working on that as the season goes on."

Opponents have matched UNCP 11-11 in goals in the first half, but have scored only six in the second half and one in overtime this season.

Credit for that factor has to go to adjustments the coaching staff is making and a solid showing by an experienced defense for UNCP.

"This team, in the five years that I have been here, has been known for its defense. We have experienced goalkeepers and solid play in the back," Andersson said. "I feel like you have to build from the back. I take pride in the five years that I've been here, we have been solid defensively."

Playing for first place in the PBC, the Lady Braves traveled to Clayton State on Oct. 15, but lost the contest 3-0.

An early goal by junior Yasemin Sunbul gave Clayton an advantage two minutes into the game.

Jennifer Winslett also scored early in the second half, followed by junior Nkese Udoh, who scored within the next minute to put the game away.

Clayton had a 19-8 shot advantage in the win.

Junior Melanie Cobb led UNCP with four shots, three on goal.

Hillary Helms had five saves, facing eight total shots on goal in the game.

Cobb provided some overtime heroics on the road against Georgia College & State University in a 3-2 double-overtime win on Oct. 12.

Cobb's goal came in the 97th minute of play off an assist by Kelly Jones.

Jones showed some offense of her own earlier with the game-tying goal in the 83rd minute of play off an assist from Nina Ratzkowski.

UNCP did take an early advantage off a penalty kick by Jamie Clarke, who has returned from a knee injury that sidelined her for six games.

GC&SU held the shot advantage at 22-20, but it was Cobb and Jones making the difference with the late goals.

Cobb finished with eight shots, two on goal. Jones finished with four shots, two on goal. Helms made 10 saves.

In order to have a chance to get near the top of the PBC, the Lady Braves had to overcome USC Upstate and they did so by a 3-0 score on Oct. 8.

At the 48th minute of play, Cobb finished an unassisted goal after Jones had broken through into the box.

In the 57th and 69th minute of the game, it was Jones again, but this time on the scoring end finding the back of the net with assists by Ratzkowski and Sarah Dagnachew.

The shot difference was 24-10 in favor of the Lady Braves.

Jones finished with seven shots, four on goal, while Cobb finished with five shots, two on goal, and Ashley McManus had four shots with two on goal.