CU wins two straight

Published 12:00 am Monday, October 1, 2007

MURFREESBORO – That’s a streak.

Chowan University’s women’s soccer team won back-to-back games last week to get headed back in the right direction.

“I think those two wins were huge for our confidence,” Head Coach Georgina Donnelly said. “This team is not used to losing as much as we have in the past few weeks.

After slumping to 2-6-2 in the aftermath of four players being lost to season-ending injuries, including leading scorer Ashley Bradford and senior captain Melissa Rodgers, the Hawks have won two straight to right the ship.

On Wednesday, the Hawks dumped North Carolina Wesleyan 3-0 at home. Amanda Cothern got the first score for the Hawks on a through ball from Casey Driver, giving Chowan a 1-0 lead.

They added to the advantage 10 minutes later when Katie Perkins scored on a Katelyn Mahoney assist.

Driver scored the final goal on an assist from senior Kermethia Abernathy.

The Hawks then hosted Converse college on Saturday afternoon and again recorded a 3-0 victory.

“We were able to try out a new formation on Saturday to give us an extra player in front of the back four,” Donnelly said. “That gives Casey and Clara (Danzeisen) the chance to go forward more often.”

It paid off Saturday with Driver recording a goal as well as Meredith McCarthy scoring off the wing.

Perkins added another goal to account for the 3-0 final.

Danzeisen, Perkins and Jillian Ferns had assists in the win.

“Clara and Casey had a great game and Katie is playing exceptionally well up top,” Donnelly said.

The Hawks travel to Lenoir Rhyne College today and then travel to Southern Virginia on Friday.

“I’ve said all along if we could get through September with a fighting chance, October could be good to us,” Donnelly said. “We have two tough outings this week and then we’ll have some rest between matches before our last four.

“We still have a lot to play for,” she insisted.

In the last four games for the Hawks, Chowan has scored seven goals, conceded only two and freshman keeper Kristy Brown has recorded two shutouts.