ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop women's soccer team will return to Eagle Field for two Big South Conference contests this weekend against the Radford Highlanders and VMI Keydets. The Eagles will play the Highlanders Friday at 7 p.m. and the Keydets Sunday at 2 p.m.
This will be the first home contest for Winthrop since opening the conference season with a 2-1 win over Gardner-Webb on Oct. 2.
Senior Tricia Vensel remains the team-leader in goals (2), points (7), shots (26) and is tied with junior Rachel Webster with 11 shots on-goal. Sophomore Allie VandeWater leads the team in assists with four, and also leads the Big South in assists per game. Redshirt-junior Kelsy Weavil and sophomore Sarah Schippers have split time in goal for the Eagles so far this season, with Weavil starting in six games and Schippers in five. Weavil has allowed 11 goals for a GAA of 1.65 and snagged 29 saves for a .725 save percentage. Opponents have scored eight times this season against Schippers, while she has a 1.52 GAA, 27 total saves and a save percentage of .771.
Julie Ruh'E posts team-highs for Radford with seven goals, 17 points, 37 shots and 18 shots on-goal, and is tied with Latrice Lee and Maryellen Derenda with three assists each. Goalkeeper Che' Brown leads the Highlanders with only eight goals allowed, a 0.60 goals against average, 58 saves, and a .879 save percentage. She currently leads the Big South in goals against average, save percentage and shutouts (6).
Radford leads the conference with a 3-0-1 mark, and is tied for first with a 9-4-1 overall record. The Highlanders have posted victories this season over Southern Virginia, Francis Marion, Iona, Campbell, Tennessee and Coastal Carolina. Radford has also record four consecutive wins against Tennessee Tech, Alabama A&M, UNC Asheville and Presbyterian.
The Highlanders are coached by Ben Sohrabi, who is in his 15th season with the program and 17th year overall.
VMI is 2-12 overall this season with a 1-3 conference mark, and has picked up wins over Campbell and UNC Asheville.
The Keydets are coached by Bryan Williams, who is in his sixth year at VMI and 12th season overall.
VMI is led offensively by Amanda Berrios with three goals, six points, 26 shots and 11 attempts on-net. Simone Jimenez has a team-high one assist for the Keydets. Goalies Heidi Beemer and Angela Redmond have both split time in net this season for VMI, with Beemer appearing in 10 games and Redmond in nine. Beemer has allowed 12 goals for a GAA of 1.73 with 47 saves and a .797 save percentage. Redmond posts a 4.79 GAA, 32 goals allowed, 57 saves and a .640 save percentage.
Radford leads the all-time series over Winthrop 4-3 and 2-1 when playing in Rock Hill. The Highlanders won 2-1 in overtime at Radford last season, while the last three contests have at least gone into overtime and have been decided by one goal. The Keydets also hold the series lead over the Eagles 3-4-1, and the series is tied at Eagle Field 1-1. The two teams met twice last season, with VMI winning the regular season matchup 1-0 on Oct. 18. Winthrop would tie the Keydets in the semifinals of the Big South Tournament in Charleston, SC on Nov. 6, but won 3-0 in penalty kicks to advance to its first Big South Tournament title match.
The Eagles will hit the road for two conference matchups next weekend. They will travel to UNC Asheville on Oct. 22 for a 3:30 p.m. contest, and then play at Presbyterian in a 2 p.m. game on Oct. 24.
