ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop lacrosse team picked up its first conference victory of the season Saturday afternoon, downing the Radford Highlanders 18-9 and snapping a four-game losing skid.

The Eagles improved to 4-9 overall and 1-2 in the Big South while Radford fell to 5-7 overall and 1-2 in the conference.  Winthrop continues conference play on Wednesday with a 4 p.m. road contest at Presbyterian.

Radford got off to a quick start, netting the game's first goal less than a minute into the contest.  Winthrop responded, scoring the next three goals to go up 3-1 with 20 minutes on the clock. 

The Highlanders grabbed the next goal to get within one before the Eagles rattled off seven straight goals to take a commanding 10-2 lead with 10:24 remaining in the first half.  Each side found the net twice in the final 10 minutes and the Eagles took a 12-4 lead into the break.

In a fairly even second half, the two teams traded the first six goals of the half as the Eagles held onto a 15-7 lead with just under 14 minutes remaining.  The Eagles then scored three straight to increase their lead to 18-7 with six minutes on the clock.  Radford was able to net two goals in the final five minutes to reach the 18-9 final.

Nicole Beatson led the Eagles with seven points on five goals and two assists.  Katie Clark and Katherine Judge each tallied four goals while Ellie Marindin had four points on two goals and two assists.  Judge led Winthrop with seven draw controls and five caused turnovers and Caroline Boudreau led the team with four ground balls.  Goalie Chloe Wormsley finished with five saves in the victory.

Winthrop dominated the Highlanders in the hustle categories, winning draw controls 18-11 and ground balls 24-15.  The Eagles finished with 43 shots and went 4-for-8 on free-position attempts.  Winthrop also forced 19 Radford turnovers.