SCU/MP 96 Girls Elite uses two First Half Goals to defeat NCAA Div II side North Greenville 2-0

Newberry, South Carolina-

The SC United MP 96 Girls elite traveled on Wednesday to face NCAA Div II side, North Greenville University, and came away with a 2-0 win on a neutral site venue.

Newberry College, playing host to the scrimmage, offered a great venue to the two teams on Wednesday night. 

Newberry College as Host Field

SCUMP quickly got on the board with a great individual effort by FWD Miranda Weslake (Clemson). Weslake received the ball at the corner of the 18 yard box, cut her defender inside, and placed a left-footed shot into side netting giving SCUMP the 1-0 lead in the 8th minute.

SCUMP continued to put pressure on the Crusaders back four for the rest of the first half. After some good hustle defensively by the Mount Pleasant side, the play advanced into the offensive third creating another great opportunity on frame.

Winger Mary Shirley received the ball out on the left flank, pushed the ball by her defender, and served a curling ball into the box. The cross would find the foot of Jessica Dooley who freed herself from a defender and hit a one-time volley past the outstretched Keeper.

The 27th minute tally by Dooley would put SCUMP up 2-0 with several minutes to play in the first half.
North Greenville's best chance came with just seconds remaining in the first half, when a breakdown in defense by SCUMP made way for point blank chance for NGU.

Inside the 6-yard box, SCUMP's GK Clarissa Gold came up with the save of the night when she laid out to tip the Crusaders shot wide right of the post to keep the Crusaders goalless.

SCUMP continued to pepper the Crusaders goal in the 2nd half, out shooting the college side 11-2 in the 2nd half.

Weslake and Dooley both had opportunities on frame that would be denied by NGU, keeping the score within reach for the Crusaders.

Unfortunately, SCUMP held tight defensively and earned the shutout with a 2-0 win in Newberry.
SCUMP 96 Girls Elite finished their preseason campaign 1-1-1 overall and will look to continue their winning ways when they travel to Charlotte on Sept 14-15 to open regular season play in Region III Premier League East.


To follow on updates on Twitter for the 96 Girls Elite team, or the South Carolina United-MP club overall, be sure to connect at @scunited_mp

96 Girls Elite open up Fall Schedule with College Friendlies on August 11

Mount Pleasant, SC-

Over the past few years, South Carolina United and South Carolina United-Mount Pleasant have combined to create a pre-season friendly initiative to prepare each club's top teams with valuable minutes on the pitch prior to the opening of regular season.

SCU/MP Girls 96 Elite will travel to Columbia for their friendlies with South Carolina United 96 and 95 Elite teams on Sunday, August 11.

This one-day event allows the players to get some real minutes on the pitch, work on match fitness and helps the coaches get a feel for where their team is collectively as a unit, as well as analyze individual performance.

"These matches are crucial to see where we are at technically, tactically and on our fitness", added Head Coach Neidig. "This is an opportunity for me to throw some players in at different positions, but more importantly it helps our team translate tactics into a real game environment from what we learned in training."

The 96 Elite side will also bring in several players from other age brackets and teams within the club to help identify their level and groom talent at the highest level, but also to add extra numbers to the roster. These players at anytime could get a 'call-up' when the situation permits throughout the year.

The event will attract dozens of college coaches across the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee as well, many of which who will be looking to secure top prospects for the upcoming recruiting classes.

The SCU/MP side will play matches at 9:30am (Field #6) and 2:00pm (Field #1) at BB&T Fields.

2013 96 Girls Elite side to open training July 15

Mount Pleasant, SC

After nearly a month break from the Region III Regionals in Oklahoma, the 96 Girls Elite program will open training for the 2013-2014 Fall/Winter season ahead of a very competitive season.

Training will begin in Mount Pleasant on July 15 and coaches will conduct fitness and training sessions between 2-3 times a week for the month of July.

As the team prepares for the new season, preseason will transition into the middle part of August as the team prepares for College ID Friendlies, two college preseason scrimmages and the opening weekend in the Region III Premier League- East Division on August 17-18 weekend.

More information to follow in the coming days.