By: Jake Miller
WILSON, N.C.- Coker women's soccer held off a second half rally on the road at Barton to beat the Bulldogs 3-2 and pick up their first win of 2016 on Wednesday (Sept. 7).
The Cobras (1-1) controlled the first half from the opening kick and took a 3-0 lead to the break. Phoebie Eshen got things going in the 22nd minute when she found the back of the net with a header off a Renee Ledesma corner kick. Ashley Hogg netted her first career goal in Navy and Gold in the 33rd minute when she broke away from any Bulldog defenders and deked the keeper for an easy put away, putting Coker up 2-0. Another Cobra freshman got in on the action when Farrah Brown stashed one home off yet another Renee Ledesma corner piece.
Barton scored twice before the halfway point of the second half, but that was all the home team would get as the Cobras get their record back to .500. Shelby Middleton (1-0-0) collected her first win of the season, pitching a shutout in 50:10 between the pipes. The sophomore made one save in her first start of the year. Ashton Knopf saw 39:50 in the beginning of the second half, and made one save in her effort.
The Cobras will come back to the friendly confines of the Coker athletic field next Wednesday (Sept. 7) when they open South Atlantic Conference play against the Anderson University Trojans. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. at the Coker College athletic fields. Tickets for the match are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free to all Coker faculty, staff and students.