DANVILLE, Ky. -
Zara McCarthy has the hot boot right now and cannot be extinguished. The junior striker scored for a 5th consecutive game as Centre beat Southwestern, 1-0, to remain perfect in the SAA and atop the table.
Coming in, the numbers showed that Centre should have a distinct advantage in shots. The Colonels had outshot opponents all year, while the Pirates allowed many more to their opponents. It did not take long for that to bare out. The Colonels had 3 shots in the first 10 minutes to none for the Pirates. By the 16th minute, the shots were 6-1 for Centre but the game remained scoreless as Centre struggled to keep the ball down. Three more shots for Centre came between the 20th and 27th minutes, but all sailed high and wide of the goal. Southwestern was able to hold on to keep the game scoreless at half, despite the Colonels holding the ball at a 68% clip.
The attack continued in the second half.
Zara McCarthy nearly had a goal in the 51st minute as a sidewinder drilled the right post and was cleared away by the Pirates' D. The pressure kept coming and delivered the moment Centre wanted in the 68th minute.
Ellery Taylor took possession and lofted a perfect pass down the pitch. McCarthy was waiting, slid around a defender and buried the ball into the net. Her 7th goal of the season finally gave the Colonels a much-deserved lead.
Annie Walz nearly made a 2-0 in the final seconds but was denied in a 1v1, but Centre still took the important 3 points.
In total, the Colonels outshot the Pirates, 20-8, overall and 10-3 on goal. Centre also drew 5 corners, while conceding only one.
Centre will look to carry the momentum into a massive game on Sunday as unbeaten, and 25th-ranked, Trinity comes to Amend Field with kickoff set for 11:00am.
Â
