Box Score Box Score
ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop women's soccer team opened its 2008 Big South Conference season with a 1-0 loss to UNC Asheville in double overtime on Saturday evening at Eagle Field.
The Eagles fall to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while the Bulldogs improve to 4-6-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
It took UNC Asheville only two minutes to score in the second overtime when Robyn Busha received a cross from Lindsay Bragg into the goal box. Busha placed her shot to the left of goalie Dimi Poulos and into the net for the game-winner.
Winthrop had opportunities in the second half and first overtime to clinch the victory, but could not take advantage of them.
Chelsea Tidwell had a chance in the 83rd minute to put the Eagles ahead with a free kick from 18 yards out, but her shot sailed over the Bulldog wall and hit the top post denying Tidwell of her third goal of the season.
The second opportunity came in the 3rd minute of the first overtime when Rachel Webster sailed her only shot of the match from 10 yards out over the head of goalie Veronica Lazar, but the ball somehow managed to hit the bottom left post and bounce into the hands of Lazar.
“We played very well on both sides of the ball tonight,” said head coach Melissa Heinz. “We took shots, created opportunities, and dominated on the field tonight. We made that one mistake and they capitalized on it. It was the best we have played all year.”
The Bulldogs finished with an 18-14 advantage in total shots over Winthrop. Lazar added five saves on the evening, while Bragg led UNC Asheville with a total of five shots.
Tidwell led the Eagles with three shots, while Tricia Vensel, Chelsea White, Kathleen Pollard, and Ann Lutzenkirchen had two shots apiece. Erin Foote also added one shot. Poulos finished the game with a total of four saves.
Winthrop will be back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m., as they travel to take on Big South Conference foe VMI.
