University of South Carolina Beaufort Women's Soccer
Coach Jay Harris

The unicycle!

Trio Of Freshmen Score In Sand Sharks' 3-1 Win Over Knights

Justin Jarrett
9/24/2012

BLUFFTON, S.C. — Freshmen Pascale Rocca, Olivia Dizon and Maddie Zak scored goals and Chelsie Mummert stopped four of five shots on goal, as the University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team bounced back from last week's tough overtime loss to claim a convincing 3-1 win over visiting St. Andrews on Monday at Fin Land Field.

The Sand Sharks (5-5) took control early and kept the pressure on until breaking through in the 18th minute, when DeAngelus Anderson lofted a ball over the top and into the box. Goalkeeper Brittany Roberts charged after it, but Rocca — with her back to the goal — was able to able to get just enough on a high kick to spin it back over her head and Roberts' and into the goal.

That's where it remained until the second half, but the Sand Sharks kept up the attack, peppering 23 shots (11 on goal). USCB had numerous narrow misses, but the Sand Sharks broke through twice in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Dizon made a long run up the left side and dribbled into the box to blast a shot past Roberts for her third goal of the season — matching Stephanie Moldenhauer for the team lead — and a 2-0 lead.

Zak added her first collegiate goal in the 78th minute, taking a beautiful cross from Jessica Tooley and booting it inside the left post.

"It's great to see some of the things we've worked so hard on in practice translate to the game," USCB coach Ed Heberling said, calling the performance his team's best offensive showing of the season. "We made some great runs and gave ourselves more chances, and we were able to convert."

Mummert turned in another strong performance in goal. She didn't need to make many saves, but her aggressive play stifled several strong scoring chances. The only goal she allowed came on a rebound, as she was unable to squeeze a hard shot from Kaitlyn Poole, and Cheyenne Felkel slid in and punched it into the goal before Mummert could corral it.

The win was the Sand Sharks' third in their last four games and evened their record heading into a string of eight straight Sun Conference games to end the regular season.

"This was a big win for us," Heberling said. "We really wanted to get back to .500 going into conference play. Now we have to take up another notch to be competitive in the conference."

USCB hosts Webber International for its homecoming game at 4 p.m. Friday, then welcomes Warner for a 1 p.m. game Sunday.

Sand Sharks Put Scare Into Bees, Fall 2-1 In OT

Justin Jarrett
9/19/2012

BLUFFTON, S.C. — The mantra for this year's University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team is "Prove It," and the Sand Sharks proved they will be a factor in the Sun Conference in their second season, giving SCAD Savannah a scare in both teams' conference opener before falling 2-1 in overtime Wednesday at Fin Land Field.

Meadhbh Deeney's header off a cross from Nikki Wittak 8:33 into overtime lifted the Bees (4-3, 1-0 Sun Conference) to a hard-fought victory after Shelby Dieckamp capitalized on a cross from Lisa Singleton to net the equalizer in the 80th minute.

The game-winner denied USCB its first-ever Sun Conference victory, but it didn't take away from Sand Sharks coach Ed Heberling's feeling that his team proved it will be a dangerous squad in the conference. USCB was picked 11th of 12 teams in the preseason, while SCAD was picked fourth.

"We just went to overtime with a team that beat the No. 6 team in the nation a week ago," Heberling said. "They're No. 28 right now, and we showed we can compete."

USCB (4-5, 0-1 Sun Conference) controlled the first half but settled for a scoreless tie at the break. The Sand Sharks broke through nine minutes into the second half, when Kathleen Kent and Emily Mentrup teamed up for the night's first goal.

The Bees gave Kent space on a free kick from 35 yards out, so she played a quick touch to Mentrup, who gave it back. Kent dribbled in to about 25 yards and rocketed a shot through goalie Ciara Thomas' hands and into the top-right corner.

The Sand Sharks were able to sustain the lead until the 80th minute thanks to a strong defense and keeper Chelsie Mummert, who stopped 11 shots, including some spectacular saves. SCAD finally broke through to tie it when Singleton chased down a ball in the right corner and made a move to the inside to create some space, then sent a cross to Dieckamp, who sent it inside the left post.

USCB played the final six minutes of regulation and all of overtime short-handed after Alexa Muffley was sent off for her second yellow card, but the Sand Sharks still managed to generate some scoring chances in the extra period, narrowly missing on a pair of potential game-winners.

SCAD didn't waste its best opportunity, as Wittak sent a cross from the right side into the box, and Deeney buried it in the net with a powerful header.

"We gave them everything they wanted and felt like it was a very evenly matched game," Heberling said. "The goal it ended on was a beautiful goal. You can't take that away from them. It just didn't go our way this time. There are too many positives to build on to get caught up on the overtime loss, and that's what we're going to do."

The Sand Sharks will try to bounce back in a non-conference home game against St. Andrews Presbyterian at 5 p.m. Monday.

Sand Sharks Rout Florida Christian To Improve To 4-4

Justin Jarrett
9/17/2012

After being on the wrong end of its share of lopsided scores in its inaugural season last year, the University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team was able to enjoy a comfortable victory of its own Monday, cruising to a 14-1 win over visiting Florida Christian College at Fin Land Field.

Stephanie Moldenhauer, Olivia Dizon and Erin Lynn each scored two goals in the first half, and Pascale Rocca and Alexa Muffley also scored to contribute to an 8-0 halftime lead.

Six different USCB players - Blair Kent, Becca Kent, Chelsie Mummert, Hunter Clark-Dye, Jenn Salizzoni and Erika Watkins - scored in the second half. Jessica Tooley led USCB with three assists, and Kathleen Kent and Erika Watkins added two apiece.

Blair Kent made her first start of the season in goal, holding the Suns off the board in the first half before giving way to Fred Gallman.

Mummert, USCB's regular starting keeper, still got in on the action, assisting on one goal and scoring another with a header off a beautiful corner kick from Kathleen Kent.

USCB coach Ed Heberling commended the Suns, a first-year program, for their effort and enthusiasm.

"We know what it's like to be where they are," Heberling said. "I told their coach that. I told him it does get better."

Heberling's team is evidence of that. After winning only one game and scoring only five goals last year, the Sand Sharks evened their record at 4-4 on Monday. They have scored 20 goals through eight games, and 15 different players have scored compared with only three last season.

"It was great to get everybody some playing time and let them get a little more accustomed to playing at the college level," Heberling said. "We were able to work on some things offensively that will help us going into conference play."

The Sand Sharks open Sun Conference play at 5 p.m. Wednesday with a home game against SCAD Savannah.

Sand Sharks Top Emmanuel For First Home Win

Justin Jarrett
9/14/2012

The improvement from year one to year two has been apparent in the early season for the University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team, but the one area the Sand Sharks had struggled with was finishing scoring chances, especially at home, where USCB was shut out in its first three games.

That changed Friday at Fin Land Field, as DeAngelus Anderson and Jessica Tooley each scored their first goal of the season and Chelsie Mummert made 12 saves to lift the Sand Sharks to a 2-1 victory over Emmanuel College.

USCB coach Ed Heberling was not pleased with his team's effort in a 4-0 loss to Flagler College on Wednesday, but the Sand Sharks quickly put the loss behind them and played with much better energy and discipline from kickoff Friday.

"This was a great rebound game for us," Heberling said. "We came out and really controlled the game from the start. We still have some things to work on, but we played a pretty good team tonight, and we definitely played well enough to win."

The Sand Sharks (3-4) finally capitalized on a chance in the 41st minute, when Kathleen Kent sent a long ball from midfield that Anderson was able to run down to produce a one-on-one chance. She easily beat the goalie to give USCB it's first goal in four home games.

The Lions (4-3) evened it at 1 in the 59th minute, when Mummert was unable to corral a ball near the edge of the goalie box, and Lauren Cunningham scored on an empty goal.

USCB kept up its aggressive attack, though, and regained the lead just four minutes later. Meleah Powers threaded a beautiful ball up the right side for Stephanie Moldenhauer, who sent a cross into the box for Tooley. The freshman from Tega Cay, S.C., finished the play by tucking a shot inside the right post for the game-winner.

"We worked this week on making runs and getting a little better organization with our attack," Heberling said. "I thought that showed tonight. We made some good runs and generated a lot more chances, and we were able to finish a couple."

USCB's six goals this season already have surpassed last season's total of five, and the Sand Sharks have tripled their win total from a year ago. They will try to even their record at 4-4 when they host Florida Christian College at 1 p.m. Monday.

Sand Sharks Fall To Undefeated Flagler

Justin Jarrett
9/12/2012 8:54:00 PM

The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team was unable to generate many scoring chances and couldn't keep pace with undefeated Flagler College, losing 4-0 to the NCAA Division II Saints on Wednesday at Fin Land Field.

The Saints (5-0-1) scored a quick goal when Jessica Jagielski assisted on Cassie Fernandez's first goal of the season in the fifth minute, and that proved to be enough for Cristina Coca, who only had to make one save thanks to Flagler's strong defensive effort.

The Sand Sharks (2-4) tightened up on defense after the initial goal, but Katie Kaim scored off an assist from Jessie Uvalle in the 35th minute to give the Saints a 2-0 halftime lead.

Jagielski assisted on Taylor Adkins' fourth goal of the season in the 53rd minute, and Katie Kaufmann put away an assist from Fernandez in the 67th minute for the final margin.

USCB goalkeeper Chelsie Mummert stopped seven shots.

"We played a good team tonight, and we simply got outplayed," USCB coach Ed Heberling said. "This is the kind of game you schedule to see where you stand, and now we know what we need to do to be competitive with some of the best teams in our conference. We know where we need to be."

The Sand Sharks host non-conference games against Emmanuel College at 5 p.m. Friday and against Florida Christian College at 1 p.m. Monday before opening Sun Conference play against SCAD Savannah at 5 p.m. next Wednesday.

Gotta love the lights :)

Sand Sharks Fight Back Twice But Fall Short At Columbia College

Justin Jarrett
9/9/2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina Beaufort produced equalizing goals twice during the second half but was unable to come up with a third, falling 3-2 to Columbia College on Saturday night to snap a two-game winning streak.

The start of the game was delayed about two hours because of lightning in the area, but coach Ed Heberling said the downtime didn't affect his team, which "came out determined and energized."

The Sand Sharks and goalkeeper Chelsie Mummert entered the game with a 256-minute scoreless streak, but that went by the wayside when the Fighting Koalas scored a first-half goal and led 1-0 at the half.

USCB (2-3) had opportunities in the first half, including a shot off the post by Stephanie Moldenhauer, but couldn't capitalize.

The Sand Sharks tied it when Moldenhauer cleaned up a rebound from Sam Satterlee's blast from 20 yards, but Columbia College quickly answered.

USCB again responded, with Satterlee rocketing a shot from 25 yards off an assist from Claire Kennedy, but the Koalas regained the lead in the 86th minute, and the Sand Sharks couldn't muster another goal.

"This was our best game of the season thus far," coach Ed Heberling said. "We had a solid attack to go with a strong defense. We controlled the majority of the match and missed a few close opportunities. Soccer is a game where some days the best team doesn't win.

"We have so many positives from the game to build and grow," Heberling added. "If we keep improving with every game, we will be strong in all phases when we enter conference play."

The Sand Sharks return home to face Flagler College at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Fin Land Field.

Sand Sharks Even Record With Second Straight Shutout

Justin Jarrett
9/3/2012 7:24:00 PM

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Senior Becca Kent came off the bench to score the game's only goal in the 67th minute and goalie Chelsie Mummert and the defense ran their scoreless streak to 256 minutes as the University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team beat Warren Wilson College 1-0 on Monday.

The Sand Sharks (2-2) have won consecutive games for the first time in the program's two-year history and already have surpassed their win total from last year's inaugural campaign.

The Sand Sharks achieved another first Monday afternoon, as Mummert was named the Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Week — the first USCB soccer player to earn weekly conference honors.

"We controlled the majority of the match, and it was just a matter of time until we would get the goal," coach Ed Heberling said. "Becca Kent came off the bench in the second half and gave us the spark we needed. Our defense held strong for the entire match and was able to limit the number of scoring opportunities."

USCB's defense once again was dominant, as Mummert was credited with her second straight shutout after blanking Converse College 1-0 on Saturday. The sophomore from Summerville, S.C., only had to make a handful of saves thanks to a stellar effort from USCB's defenders.

The Sand Sharks finally broke through with 23 minutes left, when DeAngelus Anderson won the ball and played it to Sam Satterlee in the center of the field. Satterlee slotted a beautiful ball that gave Kent enough space to slide a shot past the goalkeeper and inside the far post.

"Today was a great day for us," Heberling said. "Although we didn't play as well as Saturday, we played well enough for the win. Two big wins on the road this weekend will be big to build from as we move forward."

The Sand Sharks will try to make it three straight when they travel to face Columbia (S.C.) College at 6 p.m. Saturday.