LEXINGTON, VA – The Winthrop women’s soccer team rallied from a one-goal deficit in the second half to defeat the VMI Keydets 2-1 on Thursday afternoon at Patchin Field.

The Eagles improve to 8-5 on the season and 4-1 in Big South play, while the Keydets fall to 3-8-2 overall and 0-4-1 in conference action.

“It was a game of halves,” said head coach Spencer Smith. “We stepped up our play in the second half and scored a couple of nice goals. I thought our players responded to a tough challenge and were able to get a good win on the road.”

VMI jumped ahead of Winthrop 1-0 in the 39^th minute on Sarah Strand’s sixth goal of the season with the assist coming from Myranda Emery. The goal by Strand came after a throw-in by Emery, and Strand took advantage by putting her chip shot over the head of Eagle goalie Sarah Schippers into the net.

The Keydets held a 6-4 advantage in shots during the opening half, and led 1-0 in shots on-goal. Both teams attempted two corner kicks each.

Christelle Ndongo and Liz Affronti led the VMI offense with two shots each, while Krystyna Freda had two shots for Winthrop. Neither Schippers nor Keydet goalkeeper Amanda Berrios recorded a save going into halftime.

Courtney Durbin tied the game for the Eagles at 1-1 in the 75^th minute of play. Durbin was able to gain possession after the ball had been deflected by several players inside the 18-yard box. She managed to come up with the ball and put her shot attempt through traffic past Berrios. The goal by Durbin gives her nine for the season, which sets a new career-high for her. Durbin’s previous career-best of eight goals came last season.

Krystyna Freda’s fifth game-winning goal of the season, and ninth goal overall, came just moments later in the 79^th minute putting Winthrop in front for good at 2-1. The play development of Freda’s goal was similar to the game-tying goal by Durbin, but Freda’s shot came from the top of the 18-yard box. She has now tied Durbin for team-lead in goals scored.

The Eagle defense held the Keydets to just one shot in the second half, which was an on-goal attempt saved by Schippers.

Winthrop outshot VMI 19-7 overall and 6-2 in shots on-goal, while also holding a 6-3 lead in corner kicks.

Freda took a team-best eight shots for the Eagles, and Schippers finished the match with one save. Affronti led the Keydets offensively with three shots, while Berrios snagged four saves.

Winthrop will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 15 as it will travel to Radford, VA to face the Radford Highlanders at Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium. Game time is set for 2 p.m.

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