WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Campbell Fighting Camels began their CAA campaign with a 2-0 win over in-state rival UNCW Thursday night at UNCW Soccer Stadium. The Camels extended their unbeaten streak in conference openers to six games with a record of 4-0-2.
The Seahawks (2-5-2) outshot the Camels (3-3-3) 5-0 through the first 20 minutes of action, but JLo Varada was up to the task with three saves. Possession was back-and-forth early on, as the rainfall just before gametime caused the pitch to play particularly fast.
Kaleigh Backlund put the first shot on goal for the Fighting Camels in the 21st minute, forcing a save by Morgan Hobbs.
Campbell broke the deadlock in the 38th minute with a left-footed strike by Kendall Lincoln. Emely Rubio sent a corner kick into the box, and Lincoln was there to clean up a deflection off a Seahawk defender, placing it neatly past the keeper's right side. The goal was Lincoln's second of her career and first in a Campbell uniform.
The Camels created another corner opportunity in the first 10 minutes of the second half, but the ball in was just out of reach of the leaping Meghan Bernetti.
Freshman Abby Connolly doubled the Camel lead with 26:26 left to play. After the Seahawks took a short goal kick, the Camels applied quick pressure and forced a turnover near the top of the box.
Connolly fired it past the goalkeeper with her left foot into the bottom right of the net from just inside the 18-yard box.
This is Campbell's second win this year when being outshot by the opponent (16-7 tonight), and they are 3-0-2 when scoring two or more goals.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Jeff Gross
UP NEXT
The Camels return home for a matchup against Hampton on Sunday. The game will begin at 4:00 at Eakes Athletics Complex.
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