NEWBERRY - The Newberry College women's soccer team stopped the potent offense of the No. 18 University of North Alabama Lions, scored a goal of its own and held on for a 1-0 upset victory at home.

Newberry (5-1-0) handed North Alabama (5-1-0; No. 18 NSCAA) its first loss of the season using the same blueprint for success the team has followed all year: Keep the other team's shots out of the net. Friday's win marks the fourth shutout in 2009 for the team and the first win over a ranked opponent since a 2-1 overtime win over No. 15 Carson-Newman on Oct. 27, 2007. Prior to today's Newberry win, North Alabama had not allowed a goal all season, while scoring 24 over its first five matches.

“Everyone stepped up and played, in every position. The team did what I've been asking them to do,” said head coach Karrie Miller. “We created our own momentum and beat a very good team today.”

Newberry jumped to an apparent 1-0 lead early in the first half when Amberly Fowler (Taylors, S.C.) headed in a goal from a Katie Sas (Columbia, S.C.) corner kick. The goal, however, came immediately after a Newberry foul and was disallowed, keeping the game at a 0-0 tie.

Both teams played in an offensive mode for the first half, with each team totaling 10 shots. Newberry recorded three shots on goal while North Alabama took five in the first stanza. Newberry goalkeeper Emily Rhoades (Buckley, Wash.) stopped all five.

Newberry finally pierced the North Alabama armor in the 42nd minute of the first half. After taking a pass from Sara Griffith (Marietta, Ga.) near midfield, Taryn Bristol (Charlotte, N.C.) streaked down the right side to the end line, pulled away from a North Alabama defender and launched a cross into the penalty area. Laura Mottel (North Augusta, S.C.) met the cross in the air and headed the ball past North Alabama goalkeeper Alex McLay to give Newberry a 1-0 lead.

The goal, the first and only goal scored on North Alabama this season, marks the freshman Mottel's second of the season and second game-winner. Bristol received her second assist of the season and Griffith received her first on the score.

Newberry had not scored a first half goal since a season-opening win over Coker on August 27.

“We got on them early,” Miller said. “Our players didn't play 10 minutes today, they didn't play one half—they played 90 minutes. I'm very proud of this team.”

Leading the No. 18 team in the nation 1-0 at halftime, Newberry came out ready for a battle in the second half. The scarlet and gray allowed North Alabama just three shots on goal and Rhoades stopped all of them. Newberry took four shots on goal and each team finished with 18 shots in the match.

Newberry spent much of the second half clearing the ball from its own end and looking for chances from its speedy forwards on long balls, with Mottel, Jesse Langdon (Raleigh, N.C.) and Ashley Reetz (Summerville, N.C.) looking for insurance goals.

The scarlet and gray defense rose to the occasion in the second half, ultimately keeping North Alabama from scoring. Rhoades earned her fourth shutout of the season, making eight saves in the effort. She currently maintains a goals against average of 0.18 and a record of 5-1-0.

With 18:15 left in the second half and the Lions pressing for an equalizer, Rhoades made a diving stop from a Jo Chubb shot to keep Newberry ahead. Both teams began to play more physically and North Alabama's Julia Osmond received a yellow card in the 78th minute. After a frantic final 10 minutes of Newberry clearing every North Alabama chance, the scarlet and gray could celebrate the upset.

Newberry will look to keep up its winning ways when it begins South Atlantic Conference play on the road against Mars Hill College on Wednesday, September 16. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.