ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop women's soccer team picked up a 3-2 victory Friday night over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Eagle Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama A&M (0-6) got a number of early chances but none that legitimately challenged the Winthrop netminder. The Eagles got on the board in the 16
th minute from the foot of
Allie Thomas.
Dylan Patterson one-touched a bouncing ball in the midfield that found Thomas past the defense. Thomas took the ball on her left foot and popped it over the goalkeeper.
Winthrop (4-1-1) started to gain some momentum after the first goal. After multiple shots, the Eagles got their second goal in the 30
th minute.
Brianna Palmer collected a ball near the corner of the penalty area and pushed a pass out to the right to a running
Natalie Royaards. Royarrds then slid the ball across the face of goal where
Katie Colwick calmly slotted it into the back of the net to put the Eagles up 2-0.
The Bulldogs got a goal back only a few minutes later as A&M's Camille Nurse rose above the Winthrop defense to head in a corner kick. Winthrop went back up by two in the 41
st minute as
Megan Loveland toe-poked a loose ball through the Bulldog defense and found
Alyssa Fernandez who beat the keeper across goal. Winthrop took the 3-1 lead into the break.
The Eagles had a big opportunity thwarted in the 57
th minute. Off of a corner kick
Morrison Trnavsky had her shot saved. The rebound came to
Allie Thomas who had an attempt on goal that nearly crossed the line but was kept out.
In the 84
th minute, Alabama A&M found some luck and cut the Winthrop lead down to one.
Kelly Horan pushed an initial shot aside and Khadian Wright-Brown followed with a shot that was cleared off the line but the ball came right back to her and she was able to put the ball in the goal. Despite the late tally, the Eagles did hang on for the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Winthrop outshot the Bulldogs 12-10, placing seven shots on target while A&M put six on frame.
Allie Thomas led the Eagles with four shots, putting all four on goal.
Gabi Hull finished the night with three shots. Horan came up with four saves on the evening.
WHAT'S UP NEXT
Winthrop remains at home for a Sunday afternoon contest with the College of Charleston Cougars. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Eagle Field.