Box Score Box Score
RADFORD, VA – Courtney Durbin scored two goals and Rachel Webster added two assists as the top-seeded Winthrop women's soccer team defeated the eighth-seeded VMI Keydets 3-1 on Friday afternoon at Cupp Memorial Stadium on day one of the 2010 Big South Women's Soccer Championship.
The Eagles improve their record to 7-9-2 overall, while the Keydets season comes to an end with a 3-16-1 record.
“I was really pleased with how we played today,” said head coach Spencer Smith. “We played with a great deal of intensity. I felt we were moving the ball well at times and took advantage of our opportunities. I was happy with our overall performance.”
Winthrop struck first in the 25th minute as Courtney Durbin recorded her team-leading seventh goal of the season. Rachel Webster lost the ball for the Eagles on VMI's side of the field outside of the 18-yard box, but she got the ball back from the Keydet defender and dribbled inside of the box. She crosses the ball into the middle of the box where Durbin beat several VMI players in the air and headed the ball past Angela Redmond just under the top crossbar.
The Eagles went into halftime with a 7-6 advantage in shots, while the Keydets led 6-3 in shots on-goal. Winthrop also attempted five corner kicks to VMI's two.
The Keydets tied the game at 1-1 in the 56th minute on a goal by Amanda Berrios with the assist from Christelle Ndongo. Berrios and Ndongo created the opportunity with a two-on-one chance against the Winthrop defense. Ndongo made a touch pass to Berrios at the top of the 18-yard box, and Berrios put her right-footed shot past Eagle goalkeeper Kelsy Weavil and into the right side of the net.
Winthrop responded with Durbin's second goal of the match, and eighth overall, to go back on top of VMI 2-1 in the 70th minute. Durbin was able to sneak past the Keydet defense and received a wide-open pass from Kylene Babauta in front of the net. She put her one-timer past Heidi Beemer, who came in at goalie for Redmond in the second half, for her team-high fifth game-winner of the season. The assist by Babauta was the first of her career.
The Eagles added another goal with just one second remaining on the clock on Tricia Vensel's fourth goal during the 2010 season. Just as time was expiring, Vensel made it past the VMI defenders and received a wide-open pass from Webster for a one-on-one scoring chance against Beemer. Vensel waited for Beemer to come out of the six-yard box to defend the shot, and scored to give Winthrop the 3-1 victory. Vensel put her shot past the diving Beemer and into the middle of the net. It was also Webster's second assist of the match.
The Eagles finished the match with a 26-8 lead in total shots and 14-7 in attempts on-net. Winthrop also led in corner kicks 8-2.
Durbin took a team-best six shots, including four on-goal, to lead the Eagles offensively. Weavil added six saves during the match.
Berrios attempted four shots for the Keydets, all coming on-goal, and Beemer grabbed nine saves in the second half.
Winthrop will take on No. 5 High Point at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the Big South Women's Soccer Championship. The Eagles and Panthers battled to a 1-1 tie in High Point, NC on Oct. 11.
