Box Score Box Score
ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop women's soccer team opened its 2009 campaign on Saturday evening with a 3-1 loss to the Davidson Wildcats at Eagle Field.
The Lady Eagles fall to 0-1 on the season, while the Wildcats improve to 1-0.
Davidson jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the 4th minute of play on a header by Amanda Flink off a corner kick by Lauren Conner from the left side. Conner placed the ball over the Winthrop defense and allowed Stephanie Gerow to head it to Flink.
“We did not do what we were supposed to do defending those corner kicks,” said head coach Melissa Heinz. “We did towards the end, but it was a little too late. We just did not execute in defending the corners.”
The Wildcats outshot the Lady Eagles 10-3 in the first half and also held a 7-1 advantage in shots-on-goal. Winthrop took two corner kicks, while Davidson had one.
Winthrop fell behind 2-0 in the 48th minute on another corner kick by the Wildcats. Conner took her second corner of the night from the left side and put the ball right at Gerow, who then proceeded to head the ball over Lady Eagle goalkeeper Kelsy Weavil.
Davidson struck again in the 55th minute on a goal by Blakely Low to increase its lead to 3-0. Low received a pass from Kyri Bye-Nagel inside the goal box, squeezed through three Winthrop defenders and chipped the ball over the head of Weavil.
The Lady Eagles responded back in the 58th minute on the first goal of the season for Tricia Vensel to make it a 3-1 game. The opportunity was created after Jessica Hausfeld placed a long crossing pass in front of Vensel who went unchallenged to the net for the goal past Wildcat goalie Jessie Baxa.
“We did find some players step up tonight,” Heinz added. “That is exciting. We are going to utilize them more.”
Weavil finished the game with a total of seven saves and Sarah Schippers, who replaced Weavil in the second half, snagged two saves. Baxa and Loring Ward both had one save on the evening.
Davidson took a total of 16 shots for the game and 12 shots-on-goal. Winthrop finished with six shots with three coming on-goal. The Wildcats also had five corner kicks, while the Lady Eagles had four.
Winthrop will be back in action on Sunday, Aug. 30 as it travels to take on Elon at 6 p.m. It will be the first of six consecutive road games for the Lady Eagles.
