Box Score Box Score
ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop women's soccer team tied the High Point Panthers 0-0 on Sunday afternoon at Eagle Field in Big South Conference action.
With the tie, the Lady Eagles record is now 3-7-2 on the season and 0-2-1 in the conference, while the Panthers are 2-12-1 overall and 1-2-1 in conference play.
“I think it was an even game,” said head coach Melissa Heinz. “We just have to keep trying. Our defense stayed tight in the back and they are doing what they need to do to help us win. I'm proud of our effort.”
The contest started off as a defensive struggle as the first shot of the game did not occur until the 18th minute.
Winthrop had the first opportunity to score in the 33rd minute after Allie VandeWater made a short crossing pass to Rachel Webster inside of the goal box 10-yards out. Webster trapped the ball at her feet and put her shot over High Point goalkeeper Marisa Abbott's head, but it hit off the top of the crossbar and was cleared out of bounds by a Panther defender.
High Point had a similar situation later in the 39th minute when Danielle Schepler's shot also hit off the top crossbar on a breakaway chance. The ball rebounded back to Janine Lind for another shot, but it sailed high of the goal.
The story in the second half remained the same as both teams had several chances to score, but were unable to capitalize on those opportunities.
The Lady Eagles came out quickly at the beginning of the second stanza and put pressure on the Panther defense. Winthrop was awarded a free kick from 25-yards out in the 47th minute, and Stevie Lucas' initial shot was saved by Abbott. Abbott was unable to control the save and the ball landed in front of Jessica Hausfeld, whose shot was saved by Abbott with her feet.
Lucas would later attempt another free kick from just outside the 18-yard box in the 87th minute after a shot by Ariel Kunde was saved by Abbott, but she came out of the goal box to block the shot. Lucas tried to curve her shot around the wall in front of her and just barely missed the shot as it went wide right.
“I'm pleased with today,” Heinz added. “I think that we are doing some good things that are adding up. We just have to continue to do more of the small things. I'm looking forward to seeing us build on this.”
High Point held a 21-18 advantage in shots, but Winthrop had more attempts on-goal at 9-6. The Lady Eagles also led in corner kicks 8-4.
Tricia Vensel and Allie VandeWater both led Winthrop in shots with three apiece, while Vensel had two shots on-target. Lucas, Hausfeld and Lia Gordon also took two shots each for the Lady Eagles. Kelsy Weavil had six saves in match and also earned her fourth shutout of the season.
Schepler had a team-high five shots for the Panthers, and Laura Shupe attempted two shots on-goal. Abbott finished the match with nine saves.
Winthrop will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 16 as it travels to take on the Radford Highlanders at 7 p.m.
