Women’s Soccer Teams to Clash in PBC Final Four in Evans

AUGUSTA, GA – Some of the best teams women’s soccer teams in the nation will take a neutral field for the first time this Friday night in the PBC women’s soccer final four. The 2008 PBC Championships come to Evans, Ga., and Blanchard Woods Park this weekend with two semifinal matches beginning at 5:30 on Friday and culminating with the tournament championship game at 1:30 on Sunday.

Friday night’s first matchup features a pair of nationally-ranked teams who are trying to make a statement with the 2008 season. Georgia College & State University is the #3 seed in the PBC Tournament and are ranked 19th nationally in the latest NSCAA poll. The Lady Bobcats are 13-1-4 heading into the tournament after beating Lander 2-0 in the first round in Milledgeville on Tuesday, a win that extended their unbeaten streak to 13 games. The Lady Bobcats have done that with defense, allowing only six goals to be scored against them this season, best in the PBC. Goalkeeper Mary Rob Plunkett leads the PBC with a 0.29 goals against average while on offense senior forward Hayley Ferrell leads the team and is fifth in the Peach Belt with 10 goals scored. GCSU has not lost a game since Sept. 20 when they were beaten 1-0 by…UNC Pembroke.

UNCP is the #2 seed in the PBC Tournament and will meet GCSU in Friday’s first semifinal. The Lady Braves have had their best season ever, setting five team records including most wins, highest tournament seed and most shutouts. At 16-1-1 overall, UNCP is ranked #10 in the nation and have won 10 games in a row heading into Friday’s semifinal, including a 1-0 win over USC Aiken in the first round. UNCP has also done it with defense, allowing only eight goals to be scored against them. The Lady Braves have shutout their last six opponents and have not allowed a goal to be scored since Oct. 11. Goalkeeper Whitney Beverly leads the PBC in minutes played and is second in GAA at 0.42. Offensively, senior Melanie Cobb is second in the PBC in goals with 18 and in total points.

Friday’s second semifinal game features top-seeded Columbus State taking on #5 Armstrong Atlantic State in what has become a PBC rivalry. The two teams have met in each of the last two tournament championship games, both won by Columbus State, one in overtime and one on penalty kicks. Columbus State won their fourth consecutive regular-season championship in 2008 and are the #1 seed in the PBC Tournament for the fourth year in a row and will be looking for their third straight championship. Ranked #5 in the nation, the 17-3-1 Lady Cougars beat Clayton State 4-0 in the first round of the tournament and bring an eight-game unbeaten streak to Evans. On offense, CSU will look to the duo of Gina Goforth and Stephanie Parrish. A senior forward, Goforth leads the team and is third in the PBC with 17 goals scored. Parrish, a sophomore forward, is fourth in the PBC with 13 goals scored. CSU is 2-1-1 against nationally-ranked teams this year and have played the toughest schedule in the league.

#5 seed Armstrong Atlantic State pulled off the only upset in the first round of this year’s PBC Tournament as they beat fourth-seeded North Georgia 2-0 on the road on Tuesday. The Lady Pirates have had an up-and-down season but enter the PBC semifinals with a 11-5-3 overall record and have won six of their last eight games. Offensively, AASU will look to junior forward Kristin Burton, the 2006 PBC Freshman and Player of the Year and leading scorer in the PBC in 2006 and 2007. Burton has not missed a beat in 2008, leading the league with 22 goals scored, tied for fourth on the single-season scoring list, and moved into a tie for second on the PBC career scoring chart with 64. Burton also set a PBC record by scoring a goal in eight straight games this year. The Pirates are also stout on defense, ranked fourth in the league in goals allowed and GAA.

The games on Friday and Sunday are only a part of the soccer celebration at Blanchard Woods over the weekend. On Saturday, the Peach Belt will host the community engagement event Breakfast With the Champions which gives local youth soccer players the chance to interact with collegiate student-athletes. The program will feature a free breakfast and mini-clinic for soccer players age 7-12. The event begins at 9:30 am on Saturday at Blanchard Woods and is open to all children ages 7-12 and is free. Parents can register their kids here or at the site on Saturday.