Box Score Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Winthrop women's soccer team fell on the road to the Jacksonville Dolphins 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Ashley Sports Complex.
The Eagles fall to 0-2-1 overall, while the Dolphins improve to 3-3 on the season.
“We played a good first half, but we couldn't match Jacksonville's execution in the second half,” said head coach Spencer Smith. “Jacksonville is a quality team and I think we learned a lot from today's match.”
The first half was a scoreless affair as neither team was able to get anything going offensively. Jacksonville outshot Winthrop in the first stanza 12-5 and also led in corner kicks at 3-2.
Sophomore Allie VandeWater and freshman Megan Pritts led the Eagles with two shots apiece, while Lisa Hensley posted a team-best three shots for the Dolphins.
Jacksonville opened the second half with a goal in the 54th minute to take a 1-0 lead over Winthrop. Courtney Conrad started the play after she crossed the ball from the end line back across the goal to Becca Massip, who finished with her shot into the back-right of the net.
The Eagles attempted to respond less than two minutes later when Kylene Babauta received a through pass to the top of the 18-yard box, but Dolphin goalkeeper Alexa Rooney made a sliding save to halt Babauta of the scoring opportunity.
Massip increased Jacksonville's lead to 2-0 in the 60th minute of play that came off a free kick from 23-yards out. The Dolphins free kick hit off the Winthrop wall, but the Eagles failed to clear the ball from their side of the field and Massip took advantage with her looping shot that went over the head of redshirt-junior goalie Kelsy Weavil.
Jacksonville added to its advantage at 3-0 in the 85th minute when Emily Culbreth's pass played in on the goal of the Winthrop defense, where Eva Leeper was there to put her shot at the bottom-right post.
The Dolphins finished the contest with 21 total shots, while Winthrop attempted 11 shots. Jacksonville also led in corner kicks 6-5. Both teams recorded six attempts on-net.
VandeWater led the Eagles on the afternoon with three shots and two on-goal. Conrad, Hensley and Jelena Vrcelj had three shots apiece for Jacksonville, and Massip and Leeper had two shots on-net each.
Weavil finished the contest with three saves, while Rooney snagged six saves.
Winthrop will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 10 at 4:30 p.m. against Miami (OH) in Johnson City, TN on day one of the ETSU Women's Soccer Invitational Tournament.
