BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell women's soccer found itself back in the win column Sunday afternoon after securing a 1-0 victory over Davidson at the Eakes Athletics Complex.

The Camels improve to 2-2-1, while the Wildcats see their record slip to 2-4.

The Fighting Camels opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Alyssa Tucker carried the ball past the defender and crossed it into the box just before it crossed the endline. Davidson's goalkeeper got a touch on it, but it went past her and started rolling towards the goal line. Sage Dougherty was making her run into the box and fought off her defender and was able to get her back heel on the ball and push it across for the opening goal.

The Wildcats would quickly follow with an effort of their own in the 12th minute. Riley Patton curled in an effort from outside the box and over the head of Campbell goalie Sierra Vance, but the ball found the crossbar and fell harmlessly to the ground before being cleared by the Campbell defense.

The Camels created a flurry of chances in the second half when they had four consecutive corner kicks. The best opportunity came on the third attempt, as the incoming ball found Laney Peabody who headed it on goal. Davidson's goalkeeper Emily Smith was up to the task, pushing it over the crossbar and out of play.

The Camels ended the match with a 12-10 shot advantage, recording one more effort on-goal than the Wildcats. Both Vance and Smith recorded three saves.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Jeff Gross
On the team's improvement over the past week:
"We were more confident with the ball than we were last week. Which is also what we trained on all week, so I think that made a difference from last week…We were more organized defensively. It was a more complete effort."

On the impact of Sage Dougherty and her early goal:
"That's what Sage is able to do in the time that she's out there. She's disruptive, she plays hard, she causes problems for the other team. She just gets in a scrappy spot and sees if she can create something."

On the continued pressure in the second half:
"I was pleased with how the group kept their foot on the gas to keep getting opportunities. We were giving those away in the first few games. It's not very obvious, but there are indicators of where we are going, and I think it's getting better."

Sage Dougherty
On her approach to getting in the starting lineup and making an impact:

"I think it all starts with practice and making sure I'm still working hard and pushing others to be better. Naturally, it will come for yourself as well. I think staying in it, talking with others and helping others helped me a lot."

On her winning goal:
"I had the mentality to just run at the goal, get across the keeper and then throw my body to get it in the goal."

UP NEXT
The Fighting Camels begin play in the CAA with a road trip up to Long Island, N.Y. to take on Stony Brook. The match will kick off on Thursday at 6 p.m., and it will be broadcast on FloSports.

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