No. 12 Pirates Notch 3-1 Win Over Catawba At GCSU Shootout

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - Senior Kristin Burton's two second-half goals snapped a 1-1 tie and propelled the No. 12-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State women's soccer squad to a 3-1 win over Catawba in GCSU Bobcat Shootout action on Sunday afternoon in Milledgeville.

The Pirates (3-1) finished the shootout with a 1-1 record and handed the Indians (1-1-1) - 1-0 winners over host GCSU on Friday - their first loss of the 2009 season.

The game started off scoreless for the first 30 minutes, but sophomore Erin O'Rourke capitalized on a Pirate bounce as a shot from Kristin Burton rebounded off the post, where O'Rourke one-timed it into the net for her second goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.

Catawba equalized just moments before halftime as Kaitlyn McFarland sent home a cross from Meritt Rollins in the 45th minute, making the score 1-1 at halftime. AASU outshot the Indians by a slim 7-5 margin in the first half and Catawba notched the only corner kick of the first half.

Just three minutes into the second half, Burton tallied the first of her two goals on a nifty exchange from a pair of freshman - Emily Cattanach's throughball turned into a backheel pass from Morgan Mitchell to Burton, who beat Catawba sub keeper Lindsay Webster to put the Pirates back on top, 2-1, in the 47th minute. Less than 10 minutes later, Burton added another goal, taking a pass from junior Lianne Stricklen and beating Webster in the 56th minute for the match-clinching goal.

The two-goal match from the two-time PBC Player of the Year was her 20th career multi-goal match as a Pirate, and her second in four matches this season. Burton now is just 14 goals shy of the all-time PBC record of 83, set by Olaitan Yusuf of Clayton State (2004-07) as her two goals today give her 69 for her career.

AASU finished the match with a 14-12 shot advantage as both teams notched seven shots in the second half. Pirate keeper Tracey Mitchell made five saves in picking up the win for AASU. Catawba starting keeper Chelsea Binder allowed one goal and made two saves in the first half, while Webster made three saves and allowed two goals in the second half.

The Pirates were whistled for 10 fouls, compared to four for Catawba, and Catawba enjoyed a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.

Burton and freshman Kristina Pascutti were each named to the Bobcat Shootout All-Tournament Team after Sunday's matches were completed.

AASU returns to action on Thursday, September 10, with a 7:00 p.m. match at Saint Leo University.