Wednesday, August 17, 2005

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The veterans lead the way, as Mary Nitz and Susan Persson each tallied a goal and an assist, to help Campbell past The Citadel 6-2 in Wednesday’s exhibition match. The win improves the Camel’s to 2-0-0 in exhibition play as the team prepares to play at the College of Charleston Saturday to close the exhibition season.

The Citadel defense was able to hold the Camels at bay until the 29th minute when sophomore captain Kathryn Saunders hit a shot into the upper left corner that was too strong for Bulldog keeper Brit Bunnell to parry wide.

Just over five minutes later the Camel’s struck again through some nifty combination play in the midfield. Nitz intercepted a pass in the midfield which she laid off to Mandela. The Burke, Va. native gave a return pass to Nitz, who in turn found an open Persson at the back post to slot the ball home .

“I felt like we got off to a slow start in the first half,” said Dillon, who started seven freshmen. “We played much better in the second half.”

It didn’t take long for the Camels to find the scoring touch in the second half. Less than three minutes in, Mandela and Nitz would link up once again. Mandela, who led the team in assists last season (7), laid the ball off to the Greensboro, N.C. native, who hit a curling left foot shot out of the reach of the diving Citadel keeper.

The Citadel continued to fight however, and in the 60th minute and pulled a goal back with a well taken Julie Murphy free kick. The senior, who attended Fuquay-Varina High School, curled the ball over the wall and into the net above an outstretched Samar Azem in the Campbell goal.

Campbell answered back less than a minute later as freshman Megan Marler made a quick combination pass with team captain Persson before Marler put the ball into the back of the Citadel net.

Freshman Amanda Murphy and junior captain Jessica Tacha both found their way into the scoring column as well. Murphy intercepted an errant goal kick and quickly hit a shot that beat Citadel goalkeeper Rachel Mong to the near post. Tacha scored the final goal of the match off an assist from Christina Candeloro. Her goal coming after Miriam Crawford had drawn The Citadel back to within three goals when her shot deflected off a Camel defender and over the head of CU keeper Azem.

“Overall I felt like we played well,” said Dillon. “I think we just have to continue to evaluate individuals and grow as a team. I am looking forward to our next challenge at the College of Charleston.”

The Camels will play this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at the College of Charleston to end the exhibition season. The team then returns home for its Aug. 26 for a 7:00 p.m. match with Longwood in the season opener.