Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop women's soccer opens Big South Conference play at home Saturday evening against defending champion and preseason favorite USC Upstate.
| Winthrop Women's Soccer Game Information |
| Matchup |
USC Upstate (3-4-1, 0-0-0 Big South) at (Winthrop (2-3-3, 0-0-0 Big South) |
| Date/Time |
Saturday, Sept. 20 | 6:00 p.m. (EST) |
| Location |
Rock Hill, S.C. | Eagle Field |
| Live Stats |
Statbroadcast |
| Live Stats |
None |
| Series Record |
Winthrop leads 7-3-1 | Streak – T1 |
| First Meeting |
Sept. 12, 2008 (Spartanburg, S.C.) | Winthrop won 1-0 |
| Last Meeting |
Oct. 16, 2024 (Rock Hill, S.C.) | Tied 1-1 |
| Winthrop All-Time Records |
Overall (155-195-49) | Home (67-106-16) | Away (64-112-15) | Big South (78-96-24) |
| Shop |
Find all your needs for Winthrop gear – ShopWinthropeagles | ShopWinthropGear |
| Social Media |
Twitter - @WinthropWsoccer / @WUEagles | Instagram - @winthropwsoccer | Facebook - /WinthropWSoccer | #ROCKtheHILL | #EverStand |
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS USC UPSTATE
The Eagles and Spartans meet for the 12
th time and for the second straight year in Rock Hill. Winthrop leads the all-time series 7-3-1. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in last year's meeting on Eagle Field. Upstate has won two of the last three meetings. Winthrop is 4-0-1 all-time against the Spartans at home.
BIG SOUTH OPENERS
Winthrop holds an all-time mark of 5-14-4 in Big South openers. This is the first time since the 2021 season the Eagles will open league play at home and just the third time in the last nine seasons. That year they tied Longwood 0-0. This is the 11
th time the Eagles will open conference play at home and when opening league play at home they are 3-5-2.
FOOT NOTES
- Coming off a scoreless draw at home with Queens on Sept. 14
- It was the third scoreless draw on the season and fourth shutout of the year
- The four shutouts are the most by an Eagle teams since the 2022 season finished with five
- Eagles had an unbeaten streak came to an end at four games after falling 2-0 to Western Carolina
- The Eagles were 2-0-2 in that stretch which included three consecutive shutouts
- It was the first time since the 2013 season in which an Eagle team has recorded three consecutive shutouts
- Dating back to the 2024 season, four of the last five victories have been shutouts
- It was the 13th time in program history the Eagles have been in a scoreless draw and the first time in a non-conference match since the 2007 season
- The 2-1-2 start matched the 6th best start in program history through the first five contests
- Looking to extend the unbeaten streak to four games, which was last accomplished during the 2019 season with four straight wins
- Eagles second in the Big South Conference with a 1.38 goals against average and tied for first in shutouts (4)
- Eagles are 2-1-2 at home this season with all four shutouts coming at home
- Posted back-to-back wins after a late goal to pull off a win over Southern Wesleyan
- Despite dominating the game, the Eagles had a hard time finding the back of the net but eventually did in the 80th minute as Monssi Avila-Gutierrez knotted her second of her season to grab the win
- In the win over The Citadel, the Eagles scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to earn 2-1 victory
- Cordelia McIntosh came off the bench for three points as she netted the game-winner in the 88th minute and helped set up the game-tying goal in the 80th minute
- Avila-Gutierrez scored the game-tying goal, which is the 7th of her career
- It is the second time in her collegiate career that Avila-Gutierrez has scored in back-to-back games
- Eagles opened the season with a 4-0 loss at UT Chattanooga on Aug. 14
- Eagles return seven starters and a total of 18 players from last year's squad
- Among the returning starters are the team's top four scorers
- Junior Sophia Balliet led the team in points (7) for a second straight season
- Mia Vrataric played every second of every contest last season, finishing the year with a 1.64 goals against average and three shutouts
- Allowed just 23 goals, the seventh fewest in a single-season in program history
- In her first two seasons, Balliet has eight goals, which are tied for 20th all-time by an Eagle
- In her first two years she posted 18 points and right behind her is Avila-Gutierrez with 15 points (6g,3a) who now has 17 after the goal against The Citadel
- Eagles have Winthrop was voted to finish 7th in the 2025 Big South Conference Preseason Poll
- Eagles are in their 23rd season overall and this will mark the 400th game in program history
- The Eagles are 155-195-49 all-time
- Spencer Smith is in his 16th season as head coach and coached in his 200th game for the Eagles on Sept. 25, 2021 vs. USC Upstate
- Smith is 4th all-time in Big South history for victories and captured his 100th win at Winthrop in the 2-0 victory over VMI (9/12/24)
- It is Smith's 37th season overall as he posted a career record of 274-312-60
- He is 102-122-32 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 5th all-time in Big South history
2025 HONORS
- Cordelia McIntosh – Sophomore
- Big South Offensive Player of the Week (Aug. 25)
- Game-winning goal and assisted on game-tying goal vs. The Citadel
- Big South Midseason Player Watch List (Sept. 18)
- Evyn Schokora – Sophomore
- Big South Preseason Returning Players Watch List – Midfielders
- Monssi Avila-Gutierrez - Junior
- Big South Preseason Returning Players Watch List – Midfielders
- Kylie Full - Senior
- Big South Preseason Returning Players Watch List – Defenders
- Sophia Balliet - Junior
- Big South Preseason Returning Players Watch List – Forwards
WATCH THE EAGLES ON ESPN+
Select women's soccer home games during the 2025 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.
BE A BALL RUNNER FOR WINTHROP SOCCER MATCHES
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 2025 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.
JOIN THE EAGLE CLUB
The Eagle Club is the official fundraising arm of Winthrop Athletics. Your generosity directly supports Winthrop Athletics and helps provide our student-athletes with the resources they need to succeed on and off the field. From facility upgrades and enhanced game-day experiences to scholarships, equipment, travel, and academic support, every dollar makes a difference
.
By investing in the Eagle Club, you're helping us build a stronger future for Winthrop Athletics—one that prioritizes excellence, opportunity, and a championship culture.
Whether you're an alum, parent, fan, or community member, your support fuels our success. For more information or to become a member,
CLICK HERE.
UP NEXT
Winthrop is back in action midweek as it travels to N. Charleston, S.C. on Wednesday, Sept. 24 to take on Charleston Southern at 3 p.m.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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