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Winthrop vs. VMI Slideshow
CHARLESTON, SC – The eighth-seeded Winthrop women's soccer team defeated the fifth-ranked VMI Keydets in penalty kicks on Thursday afternoon at Blackbaud Stadium to advance to the championship match of the 2009 Big South Conference Women's Soccer Tournament.
It is the first appearance for the Lady Eagles in the championship match in school history.
Winthrop's record is now 5-10-5 on the season, while the Keydets finish their season with a 7-10-3 record.
“I'm proud of the players and it's a great feeling to be going to the finals, something we have not done before,” said head coach Melissa Heinz. “They executed those penalty kicks.”
The Lady Eagles struck first in the 9th minute of play on Allie VandeWater's second goal of the season. Kyrie Weant set the play up with her loft pass to VandeWater, who beat the VMI defense. VandeWater settled the ball, took the shot with her left just inside the 18 yard box and put it past Keydet goalkeeper Angela Redmond into the bottom right of the net.
VMI tied the game at 1-1 in the 34th minute after Alexi Staton put her cross pass right at the six-yard box to Chrissy Beach. Beach then headed the ball to a wide open Simone Jimenez, who put her header past Winthrop goalkeeper Kelsy Weavil and into the back of the net.
The Keydets outshot the Lady Eagles 8-6 in the first half and also held a 4-3 advantage in shots on-goal. Winthrop attempted two corner kicks, while VMI took one.
Six different Lady Eagle players had one shot in the first stanza, while Weavil snagged a total of three saves. Beach led the Keydets in the half with four shots, and Redmond had two saves.
For the second consecutive contest, Winthrop needed penalty kicks to advance in the tournament. Kathryn Leach led things off for the Lady Eagles with her goal to make it 1-0. Courtney Durbin followed to make it 2-0 and Stevie Lucas sealed things with her goal to increase Winthrop's lead to 3-0.
Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Schippers made two diving saves to her right in the penalty kick round to shutout VMI.
“I have no words, I'm speechless,” Heinz added. “To everyone that has believed in us and sent out e-mails, faxes and calls, we thank you. We're going to try to make everyone proud on Sunday.”
The Lady Eagles finished with a 22-18 lead in shots and a 10-5 mark in shots on-goal. They also led in corner kicks 7-4.
Rachel Webster had a team-high five shots against the Keydets, and was one of four players to have two shots on-target. Weavil concluded the match with four saves.
Beach led VMI with seven total shots and three shots on-goal. Redmond grabbed nine saves in the contest.
Winthrop will play the winner of the Radford/High Point contest at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at Blackbaud Stadium.
