Box Score
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ROCK HILL, SC – Megan David's first career goal lifts Winthrop to a 3-2 win over Coastal Carolina in the Big South Conference opener Thursday night at Eagle Field.

The Lady Eagles improve to 4-4 overall and 1-0 in the Big South, while the Chanticleers drop to 3-5 overall and 0-1 in Big South play.

“We came out hungry and ready to play which resulted in two early goals for us” said head coach Spencer Smith.  “After we got the goals our intensity dropped a bit but I felt we picked up the intensity again in the second half and played well.  Coastal played really hard and it was a physical game.  Coastal is probably the hardest working team we have played all year.  They are going to be a tough team to beat.”

The Lady Eagles struck early on Grace Radler's second goal of the season in the 9^th minute.  Radler received the pass across the top of the 18-yard box on the far side of the field from Megan David.  Radler took her shot from a step inside the box hitting it low and across the goal into the near side netting.  The assist was the second of the season for David.  Just one minute later Winthrop struck again with a goal from Devin Puckett.  The Lady Eagles converted the goal off of a corner kick which rattled around inside the box before falling to Puckett at the 6-yard box.  Puckett ripped her shot past Coastal Carolina goalkeeper Megan Spencer giving Winthrop a 2-0 lead.

The Chanticleers cut the lead to 2-1 on a 26^th minute goal by Kacey Kelley.  Kelly dropped into the midfield on the play, receiving the ball 40 yards from goal on the far side of the field, she dribbled at the Lady Eagles defense before taking a well struck shot from 25 yards out into the top corner of the net.

Despite trailing at the half, Coastal Carolina had a 10-5 advantage in shots.  Kelley led all players with three shots, while Freda led Winthrop with two shots.  Both Amelia Henderson and Spencer made three first half saves.

The game-winning goal for the Lady Eagles came in the 62^nd minute when David and Radler reversed roles and connected for the second time.  Radler took on a couple of Chanticleer defenders on the near side before playing a cross into David who headed the ball into the net from six yards out.  The goal is David's first of her career, the assist for Radler is her team leading fourth of the season.

Coastal Carolina would once again cut the Winthrop lead to one in the 85^th minute on Fia Jonsson's second goal of the year.  Jonsson beat a Lady Eagle defender, cutting in on her left foot for a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box past a diving Henderson.

Winthrop finished off the game with a couple of near misses from long range after the Chanticleers moved defender Cami Skladany to goalkeeper in an attempt to put more attacking players on the field.  Coastal Carolina ended the match with 15 shots while the Lady Eagles took 13.  Henderson finished the game with four saves in net while Spencer stopped five shots for the Chanticleers.  

Winthrop will be back in action on Saturday, September 22 at 1 p.m. as part of a day-night double header with the men's soccer team, when they host Charleston Southern at Eagle Field.