BUIES CREEK, NC – The Winthrop lacrosse team rebounded from an early seven-goal deficit Saturday but was unable to hold onto its second-half lead, falling 17-16 to the Campbell Camels in the Big South opener.

Campbell (4-6, 1-0) came out firing on offense, scoring seven goals in the opening 15 minutes, taking a 7-0 lead.  After the Eagles pulled two goals back the Camels responded on continued to lead by seven with 5:47 to play.

Winthrop (3-8, 0-1) finished the first half just as hot as the Camels started as the Eagles scored five goals in the final five minutes, closing the deficit to 9-7 at the break.

The Eagles were able to carry the momentum from the end of the first half into the start of the second.  Winthrop netted five goals in the opening nine minutes to take a 12-9 lead with 21 minutes on the clock. 

Campbell battled back, scoring five of the next six goals to take a 14-13 lead with just under 12 minutes remaining in the contest.  The Eagles tied the game again at 14-14.  The Camels again netted three straight goals to regain a three-goal edge at 17-14 with less than six minutes on the clock. 

Winthrop scored two more goals, getting within one with 3:27 left in the contest.  In the final minute, the Eagles had a shot to tie the game, but the Campbell netminder came up with a big save with less than 10 seconds on the clock and the Camels were able to run out the clock.

Kristen Shriver led the Eagle with six goals on 10 shots.  Nicole Beatson and Katherine Judge each added four goals while Bianca Tedesco and Sydney Cope each scored once.  Beatson recorded a season-high 10 draw controls while Judge added six. 

The Eagles will close out a four-game road stretch on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. contest at High Point.