Box Score CHARLESTON, SC—The Winthrop Lady Eagles' soccer squad dropped a 2-0 decision to the Charleston Southern Buccaneers Wednesday afternoon.
Winthrop got off to a slow start in the first half as Charleston Southern was able to test goalkeeper Caroline Duncan several times. In the 8th minute of play, a handball was called against Winthrop inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick goal converted by the Bucs' Lydia Frierson. The Lady Eagles remained under pressure from the Buccaneers for the first part of the half, struggling at times to clear the ball.
As the half grew longer, Winthrop started to gain momentum breaking away from the competition and testing the Bucs' goalie Alyssa Dellacqua on multiple occasions. She was able to sustain the pressure forced by the Lady Eagles to hold the 1-0 lead. Duncan kept Winthrop in striking distance by coming up with two crucial saves in the final three minutes of the half. The Lady Eagles entered halftime trailing 11-6 in shots.
The second half began similar to the first as Charleston Southern was able to apply pressure to the Winthrop defense. Momentum shifted once again in the 53rd minute when the Lady Eagles' Courtney McCleod nearly tied the match when she fired a shot just wide of the target. Winthrop continued to test Dellacqua but she seemed to be in the right spot every time.
Winthrop's Duncan again made another clutch save in the 63rdminute. Just as it looked like the Lady Eagles were going to find a late equalizer, CSU extended the lead to 2-0 with a well-struck ball from Anna Sells in the 81st minute. Despite having 14 shots with 8 coming on target, Dellacqua and the Bucs' defense proved to be too much for the Lady Eagles as the score held up for a 2-0 final.
Winthrop, 4-7-2 (1-4-1 BSC), will return home to face Campbell on Senior Day, this Saturday, Oct. 17 at Eagle Field beginning at 1:00 pm.
For the latest information on Winthrop women's soccer, follow @WUWOMENSSOCCER on Twitter or go to www.winthropeagles.com.
