CLINTON, S.C. –
Kaleigh Backlund scored twice in the opening half and Campbell defeated Presbyterian 3-0 Thursday night at Edens Field at Martin Stadium.
Emma Bushee added a goal and
Reaghan Duval posted her third shutout in the last four contests for the Camels (4-2-2, 2-0-0 Big South), who ran their unbeaten streak to four matches (3-0-1) and have outscored their opponents 7-1 in that span.
Presbyterian (1-8-1, 0-1-1) mustered only two shots all night and suffered its fourth shutout of the season.
A freshman from Gilbert, Ariz., Backlund gave the Camels the lead on their first shot of the night just 4:15 into the match.
Jackie Richards set up the strike, Backlund's first collegiate goal.
In the 20th minute, Backlund doubled the lead off
Taryn Phillips' assist. In her first collegiate start, Backlund had more than twice as many shots in the opening half (5) as Presbyterian totaled as a team (2) all evening. She played a season-high 67 minutes.
Bushee tacked on an insurance goal – her second strike of the year – in the 64th minute.
Elyssa Nowowieski nearly added another on a late breakaway, but her shot caromed off the post.
Duval only had to make one save in her third clean sheet of the season. Megan Serrano finished with five stops in the PC nets.
"I'm really proud of
Kaleigh Backlund for stepping into a new role and taking it forward with a decisive performance today," said Campbell head coach
Samar Azem. "She was rewarded for that effort with two excellent goals."
The defending Big South champs finished with a 20-2 advantage in shots – 12-0 in the second half – and did not allow a PC attempt on target over the final 75 minutes. CU took 14 corner kicks to just three for the hosts and held possession for more than 65 percent of the match.
"PC is an exceptionally well-coached team," said Azem. "I have a lot of respect for them. I didn't think we did enough to play our style of football today, and we will learn from this as we prepare for our next match."
Campbell extended its lead in the all-time series with the Blue Hose to 10-2-1 while claiming a fourth-straight victory over Presbyterian.
Campbell returns home to host Radford (6-1-1, 0-0-1) Sunday in a 6:00 p.m. kickoff at the Eakes Complex.
