Clemson Women’s Soccer Team Bolts Past UNC Asheville 8-0 Sunday

Aug. 31, 2008

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson women’s soccer team defeated UNC Asheville by a score of 8-0 on Sunday afternoon at Riggs Field. The Tigers improved to 3-0 on the season, while the Bulldogs fell to 0-2. Senior Julie Bolt scored four goals in the win, moving into a tie for first place with three other Tigers for most goals scored in a single game.

Bolt got the Tigers on the board less than five minutes into the game with a 14-yarder into the right side of the net by way of a long pass from senior defender Molly Johnson. Junior midfielder Lindsey Jackson netted her second goal of the season at the 10:17 mark, with sophomore Abby Lambert tallying the assist on the play.

Bolt scored two more goals in the first half to record her first career hat trick, and just the 17th hat trick in program history. Jackson posted the assist on Bolt’s second goal, while freshman defender K.K. Duffy sent the ball in front of the net for the senior to head in her third of the day.

The Tigers struck again at the 59:58 mark, as Bolt recorded her fourth goal of the day, fifth of the season and 15th of her career. Junior midfielder Molly Franklin tallied the assist. Sophomore Judea Davis posted her first of two goals in the 73rd minute off a corner kick by red-shirt sophomore Jennifer Ficklen.

Junior forward Danielle Schmitt recorded her first career goal just two minutes later at the 74:15 mark and was assisted by junior Lily Boleyn. Davis netted her second goal and capped off the Tiger scoring in the 87th minute on the rebound of a Samantha Fortier shot that bounced of the hands of the Bulldog keeper.

On the day, Clemson took 30 shots to UNC Asheville’s eight and the Tigers had five corner kick opportunities to the Bulldogs’ one. Sophomore Paula Pritzen played the first half in goal for Clemson, recording one save. Sophomore Marci Elpers saw the first action of her career in goal in the second half and tallied four saves in the period.

“This was a complete team effort for us today,” noted Head Coach Hershey Strosberg. “Before the game we talked about playing with a sense of urgency and playing the way we are capable of playing. We started off well and I was pleased with the way that we were able to sustain that play throughout the game.

“For Julie Bolt to score four goals is great. It is certainly a nice reward for her efforts. I’m happy that we were able to play everyone today and also that we were able to put together a complete game and do the things we have been talking about all season.”

Clemson will travel to Columbia, SC next weekend for the Carolina’s Cup. The Tigers will face in-state rival South Carolina on Friday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m. and will take on Francis Marion on Sunday, September 7 at 2:00 p.m. at the Gamecocks’ Eugene E. Stone III Stadium.

Game Summary Goals: Clemson – Bolt (from Johnson) 4:43 Clemson – Jackson (from Lambert) 10:17 Clemson – Bolt (from Jackson) 13:39 Clemson – Bolt (from Duffy) 23:16 Clemson – Bolt (from Franklin) 59:58 Clemson – Davis (from Ficklen) 72:10 Clemson – Schmitt (from Boleyn) 74:15 Clemson – Davis (from Fortier) 86:08 Saves – Pritzen (CU) 1, Elpers (CU) 4, Gilmore (UNCA) 4, Lazar (UNCA) 10, Team (UNCA) 1 Shots – Clemson 30, UNC Asheville 8 Corner Kicks – Clemson 5, UNC Asheville 1 Fouls – Clemson 3, UNC Asheville 10