Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop women's soccer is on the road for the 4^th time in the last five games as it heads to Western Carolina for a Sunday afternoon clash.
 

Winthrop Women's Soccer Game Information
Matchup	Winthrop (3-3-0, 0-0-0 Big South) at Western Carolina (4-2-2, 0-0-0 SoCON)
Date/Time	Sunday, Sept. 15 | 2 p.m. (EST)
Location	Cullowhee, N.C. | Catamount Athletic Complex
Live Statistics	Sidearm
Live Stream	None
Series Record	Western Carolina leads 5-0-1 | Streak – L2
Last Meeting	Aug. 28, 2023 (Rock Hill, S.C.) | Western Carolina won 5-1
First Meeting	Sept. 7, 2007 (Cullowhee, N.C.) | Western Carolina won 2-0
Winthrop Records	Overall (153-188-42) | Home (65-104-12) | Away (64-107-12)
Shop	Find all your needs for Winthrop gear – ShopWinthropeagles | ShopWinthropGear
Social	X - @WinthropWSoccer / @WUEagles | Instagram - WinthropWSoccer | #ROCKtheHILL | #EverStand

SERIES HISTORY VERSUS WESTERN CAROLINA
The Eagles and Catamounts meet for the second straight season and 7^th time overall. Catamounts won last year's meeting in Rock Hill, 5-1 and have won two straight meetings.   

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FOOT NOTES

• Coming off a 2-0 victory over VMI on Sept. 12 for a second straight shutout at home this season
• Sophomore Monssi Avila-Gutierrez scored the go-ahead goal in the 68^th minute and freshman Cameron Celce scored her first collegiate goal in the 80^th minute to secure the win
• This is the 4^th matchup with an opponent from the Southern Conference this season as the Eagles so far are 1-2
• Junior goalkeeper Mia Vrataric made four saves in the win over VMI, to record her 3^rd shutout of the season
• Vrataric had a career-high six saves the game before in the 3-1 loss at Wofford
• Vrataric leads the Big South in shutouts (3), ranks 2^nd in goals against average (1.17), 4^th in save percentage (.767) and 6^th in saves per game (3.383)
• In the last seven meetings with Southern Conference opponents the Eagles are 1-5-1
• Sophomore Sophia Balliet leads the team in goals (2) and points (5) while she is 1-of-five different goal scorers on the season
• Winthrop fell 2-0 at The Citadel in the season opener
• In the three wins the Eagles have held opponents scoreless and in two of the three losses the Eagles have been shutout
• Eagles return 21 players from last year's roster and welcome back seven starters
• Among the returnees are three of the team's top four scorers from a year ago
• Sophomore Sophia Balliet led the Eagles in goals (5) and points (11)
• Monssi Avila Gutierrez was third on the team in scoring (4g, 1a) in just seven games (six starts) followed by Abbie McCrea with eight points (4g)
• The Eagles have eight newcomers, seven of them freshmen and the other is current lacrosse player Tori Iannotti who joined the team in the spring and will compete in both sports
• Eagles are in their 22^nd season overall and this will mark the 383^rd game in program history
• The Eagles are 153-188-42 all-time
• Spencer Smith is in his 15^th season as head coach and coached in his 200^th game for the Eagles on Sept. 25, 2021 vs. USC Upstate
• Smith is 4^th all-time in Big South history for victories and captured his 100^th win at Winthrop in the 2-0 victory over VMI
• It is Smith's 36^th season overall as he posted a career record of 270-307-53
• He is 100-117-25 with Winthrop soccer and posted a 172-90-28 mark coaching collegiate men's soccer
• Smith earned 137 of those wins at Radford, where he was two-time Big South Coach of the Year and led the Highlanders to two NCAA College Cup appearances
• The 137 wins at Radford rank 5^th all-time in Big South history

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GET YOUR SEASON TICKETS TODAY
General Admission tickets will be sold for all men's and women's soccer games in the 2023 season. Season tickets are currently on sale for $30, which gets you in both men's and women's games (15 total home games). Single-game tickets are $8. Get your season pass today by visiting www.winthropeagles.com/soccertickets or call the ticket office at (803) 323-2345.

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SINGLE-GAME TICKETS AVAILABLE
While season tickets are still on sale, fans can purchase single-game tickets for all home matches, which are available at www.winthropeagles.com/soccertickets or call the ticket office at (803) 323-2345. All tickets are general admission ($8) and children 2 & under get in free. 

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WATCH THE EAGLES ON ESPN+
All of the women's soccer home games during the 2024 season will air live on ESPN+. You can also catch select road games in Big South Conference play on ESPN+. To watch Big South games on ESPN+ you must have a subscription to ESPN+. For more information on how to subscribe, click here.

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BE A BALL RUNNER FOR WINTHROP SOCCER GAMES
Interested in getting closer to the action of college soccer? Winthrop men's and women's soccer teams are looking for ball runners to help at home games in 2024 and beyond. Become a ball runner for official games and become a part of our game day experience. Sign up as an individual or sign up an entire team/club to attend a match and help the game keep pace as ball runners. Available for grades 3rd thru 8th. If interested please fill out the ONLINE FORM.

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UP NEXT
Winthrop will have a 10-day break before it opens up Big South Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. when it welcomes High Point to Eagle Field.

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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To keep up with the latest news on the Winthrop women's soccer program follow the Eagles on X (@WinthropWSoccer), Instagram (@WinthropWSoccer) and Facebook (/WUWomensSoccer)