Spartanburg, S.C. – Wofford grabbed a first-half lead and Elizabeth Navola saved a penalty kick in the 82^nd minute as the Terriers held off Furman, 1-0, in Southern Conference women's soccer action Sunday afternoon at a soggy Snyder Field.
 
In the 25^th minute, Ellie Gower gathered the ball on the right side of the box and slid a pass to an unmarked Kate Markey on the far side. She fired a shot perfectly placed shot inside the right post to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead at the 24:01 mark.
 
Furman turned up the pressure in the second half by registering 14 total shots over the final 45 minutes. Jessica Mattson forced a save in the 66^th minute and Norah Roller fired inches over the bar just eight minutes later. In the 82^nd minute, Wofford was whistled for a foul line the box and Ellie Herrmann stepped up to the penalty spot, but her shot to the right was deflected wide by Navola to deny the Paladins' potential tying goal.
 
Emma Sexton forced Navola into a save in the 86^th minute before Ava King unleashed a long shot that went inches above the bar less than two minutes later as the Terriers withstood the onslaught to claim all three points.
 
"It's always an uphill climb when you fall behind early, especially on the road in conference play," said Paladin head coach Andrew Burr. "I thought we continued to battle and take the game to Wofford in the second half, but we've got to be a little more ruthless in the attacking third."
 
Navola stopped four shots to earn the shutout for the Terriers (5-8-5, 2-4-2 SoCon) while Furman's Reese DeJong notched three saves to keep the Paladins within striking distance. Furman held a 19-8 advantage in total shot attempts and 13-1 margin in corner kicks won. Both teams recorded five shots on goal.
 
Furman, 8-3-5 overall and 2-2-4 in the SoCon, enters its final regular season match in five-place in the league standings. The Paladins need at least a draw in the regular season finale to earn a top six finish and first round bye in the SoCon Women's Soccer Championship. A victory could propel the Paladins into a tie for third in the standings.
 
Furman concludes the regular season on Sunday, October 26, when it hosts The Citadel for a 2 p.m. kickoff on Seagraves Field at Stone Soccer Stadium. Admission to the match is free.
 
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