Box Score Box Score
ROCK HILL, SC – Courtney Durbin's goal in the 57th minute lifted the Winthrop women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over the Charleston Southern Buccaneers on Wednesday afternoon at Eagle Field.
The Eagles improve their record to 6-8-2 on the season and 6-1-1 in the Big South, while the Buccaneers fall to 11-6-1 overall and 5-2-1 in conference play.
With the win, Winthrop ties the school record with five straight wins and has held its opponents scoreless in all five matches.
“That was a great performance by the girls today,” said head coach Spencer Smith. “We stepped up our play in the second half and took advantage of our scoring opportunities. Charleston Southern is a very good team. For us to come away with the win is exciting.”
Durbin's goal came after Tricia Vensel received a long pass into the corner on the near side. Vensel beat a Buccaneer defender and placed a perfect ball over the defense to Durbin, who headed the ball past goalie Amy Arroyo and into the right side of the net. The goal was Durbin's team-leading sixth of the season.
Neither team produced a goal in the opening half, but Charleston Southern provided one the best chances in the 26th minute. Marky Boyce made a cross past a diving Kelsy Weavil to the near post where Caitlin Wesnesky had a wide-open scoring opportunity. Her shot, however, went wide right of the net.
The Eagles had a chance of their own in the 47th minute after Lia Gordon beat the defense and dribbled the ball all the way into the 18-yard box. Arroyo came out of the box and made a diving save on Gordon's shot and the ball deflected back to the top of the 18-yard box. Kylie Long followed up with a rebound shot, but it sailed high over the net.
The Buccaneers led 7-2 in shots during the opening half, while Winthrop attempted two shots on-goal to Charleston Southern's one shot on-net. Charleston Southern also led in corner kicks 2-1.
Durbin and Allie VandeWater took a team-high one shot and one shot on-goal each in the first half, while Weavil had one save.
Wesnesky took three shots for the Buccaneers and Arroyo grabbed two saves.
Charleston Southern looked to tie the game just before the end of regulation in the 89th minute on a shot by Toni Lashley from 11-yards out. The shot by Lashley came after a cross into the defense from the near side, but was denied by Megan Pritts as she jumped to block the scoring attempt.
The Buccaneers finished the match with a 13-7 advantage in shots and 6-4 in shots on-goal, while holding a 6-3 lead in corner kicks.
Durbin lead the Eagles offensively with two shots, both coming on-goal, and Weavil snagged six saves for her fourth shutout of the season. All four of her shutouts have come within the last five matches during conference play.
Wesnesky and Michelle Dennis both attempted three shots each for Charleston Southern, while Dennis had a team-high two shots on-goal. Arroyo concluded the match with three saves.
Winthrop will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 30 as it will host the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at 5:30 p.m. in the regular season finale. Saturday will also be Senior Night for the Eagles.
