Asheville, N.C. – The Furman women's soccer team closed out regular season non-conference play and a four-game road trip with a 3-0 shutout of UNC Asheville Thursday evening on Greenwood Field.
 
Junior Maddie Massie opened the scoring in the 25^th minute with her third goal of the season. Ava King played a pass down the left wing to Callah Dando who sent a cross towards the near side of the six-yard box. Massie beat her defender to the cross with a sliding effort and popped a shot over the UNC Asheville goalkeeper at 24:13 to give the Paladins the 1-0 advantage.
 
After outshooting the hosts 9-2 in the first half, Furman continued its dominating effort in the second 45 and doubled its lead in the 62^nd minute. Norah Roller raced down the right channel, accelerated past her defender, and rounded the charging goalkeeper with a perfectly weighted touch before tapping a shot into the empty net at 61:35 for her second tally of the campaign.
 
Furman capped the scoring at the 86:10 off a set piece. The Paladins earned a corner kick and Bri Pinasco served her set piece into the near side of the six-yard box. After the ball bounced in the box, Katelyn Nixon flicked a header toward the middle of the goal to catch Asheville's Gracie Murray off her line for the third score of the night.
 
"I'm proud of our team that we were able to go on the road for the fourth consecutive match and put together a solid win," said Paladin head coach Andrew Burr, who led his squad to a 3-0-1 record on its four-match road trip. "We took advantage of some chances tonight and really limited Asheville's opportunities after the opening 15 minutes. Southern Conference play is up next, and we will turn our focus to Mercer and begin to prepare for next week."
 
Sophomore Reese DeJong recorded one save to earn her third clean sheet of the season for the Paladins. Murray finished with six stops in goal for the Bulldogs (4-3-1).
 
The Paladins compiled a 21-6 margin in total shot attempts and a 9-1 edge in shots on goal. The stingy back line of Katie Bengough, Ava King, Ellie Herrmann, and Aleksia Christensen did not allow a shot on goal by UNC Asheville after the opening 11 minutes of the match.
 
Furman (6-1-1), unbeaten in its last seven matches, will return home to open Southern Conference play on Thursday, September 18, when it hosts the Mercer Bears on Seagraves Field at Stone Soccer Stadium.
 
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