FLORENCE, S.C. – Senior forward Hilary McKay scored a pair of goals to lead UNC Asheville to a 3-1 non-conference win over Francis Marion University, Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 18) in women's college soccer action.

UNCA improves to 9-3-0 with its fifth consecutive win.  During those five matches, the Bulldogs have allowed only two goals.  Francis Marion, in its first year as a provisional NCAA Division I member, drops to 4-7-0.

USC Asheville outshot FMU 16-1 in the opening half, but Patriot goalkeeper Jacque Sutphin recorded nine saves to keep the match scoreless.  It is the fourth consecutive match in which Francis Marion has failed to score in the opening 45 minutes.

McKay broke the deadlock with a 10-yard chip shot from the left side, three minutes into the second half.  Senior Stephanie Feltis assisted on the score.

Freshman forward Robyn Busha doubled the margin to 2-0 at the 50:50 mark when she completed a give-and-go sequence with Feltis.

Patriot senior Katie Riley cut the deficit to 2-1 at 84:02 when she corralled a long punt by Sutphin and raced down the field to score on a 10-yard shot.  It was her team-leading seventh goal of the year and her 45th career tally, two shy of the Patriot record.  She is also second on the FMU career points list with 109.

McKay accounted for the final score with only 15 seconds remaining when she connected on an 8-yard shot from the right side.  Feltis and Busha assisted on the goal.  For Feltis, it was her third assist of the match and gave her a team-high seven for the season.

For the match, UNCA outshot Francis Marion 22-5 and held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Sutphin finished with the nine stops, while senior Michelle Mattos registered one save for the Bulldogs.

FMU will play host to Clayton State University for Senior Day, Sunday at 1:30 p.m., while UNC Asheville plays at VMI, Saturday at 3 p.m.

UNC Asheville (9-3-0) def. Francis Marion Univ. (4-7-0) 3-1

Date: Oct 18, 2005  Attendance: 70

Weather: Sunny, 83 degrees

Goals by period       1  2  Tot

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UNC Asheville.......  0  3 -  3

Francis Marion Univ.  0  1 -  1

SCORING SUMMARY:

1-0  48:00 UNCA MCKAY, Hilary (12) (FELTIS, Stephanie) - 10 yard chip from left side

2-0  50:50 UNCA BUSHA, Robyn (11) (FELTIS, Stephanie) - give-and-go 11 yard chip from left

2-1  84:02 FMU Riley, Katie (7) (Sutphin, Jacque) - long punt 10 yard shot

3-1  89:45 UNCA MCKAY, Hilary (13) (BUSHA, Robyn/FELTIS, Stephanie) - 8 yd shot from right side

Shots: UNC Asheville 22, Francis Marion 5; Saves: UNC Asheville 1 (MATTOS, Michelle 1), Francis Marion 10 (Sutphin, Jacque 9; TEAM 1)