CofC Downs Furman on 89-th Minute Goal

by Nick Vlattas

September 23, 2012

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – For the second consecutive game, the College of Charleston women’s soccer team scored a game-winning goal in the 89^th minute and beat Furman, 1-0, at Patriots Point on Sunday afternoon.Maryam Buazza (Katy, Texas) scored the game’s lone goal on an individual effort with just over a minute remaining in regulation.

CofC improves to 3-6-0 overall and sits atop the Southern Conference at 2-0-0 in league play.

“It was a phenomenal performance for our side,” said head coach Christian Michner. “It’s super important to win these games. They say it’s not how you start but how you finish, but starting out at 2-0 feels great and puts us atop the league at the moment, which is fantastic. We know it’s a long SoCon season and we’ll have to keep our heads down and keep playing, but having the confidence that we showed this weekend to come out and earn two wins against two difficult teams makes the future look bright.”

The Cougars won the possession battle and produced more quality chances than the Paladins over the course of the match. CofC ended the match with a 14-11 shot advantage.

Buazza controlled the ball late in the match and dribbled into the top-right corner of the box. She juked a defender to her left and faked a shot to take the goalkeeper off balance and then scored from around the penalty spot.

“I saw that that the defender was facing the goal so I pressured her and she took a bad touch,” said Buazza. “I knew if I faked the shot they’d dive. I took a touch and put it on my left foot and saw the goalie coming out already so I slipped it to the front post. It was relieving that it went in.”

Eli Sarasola (San Sebastian, Spain) made her first career start and made three saves to earn the Cougars’ second straight shutout.

CofC takes to the road next weekend and continues SoCon play at UNC Greensboro on Friday, Sept. 28 and Elon on Sunday, Sept. 30.