FLORENCE, SC – Devin Puckett’s cross from the right side of the penalty area with 3:47 left in the second overtime session found its way into the goal to lift Winthrop University to a 2-1 win over Francis Marion University, Saturday evening (Oct. 4) in women’s soccer action.

FMU will play host to South Carolina State University for the squad’s annual Sea of Red Match on Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Hartzler Field.

Winthrop (4-6-0) took a 1-0 advantage in the 17th minute when Grace Radler headed a Patriot free kick ahead to Krystyna Freda who fired a 19-yard shot into the upper right side of the goal past a diving FMU goalkeeper Taylor O’Berry.  It was Freda’s team-leading eighth score of the season.

Francis Marion answered with an equalizing goal at the 27:02 mark.  Winthrop goalkeeper Amelia Henderson stopped a short shot by FMU sophomore Tori Whigham, but the ball was not secured and a short Lady Eagle clearance landed at the feet of Patriot senior forward Elizabeth Asare.  Asare then scored on a 15-yard shot for her third tally of 2014 and her 15th career score.

Whigham had a chance to put the Patriots ahead in the 33rd minute when she beat Henderson to a loose ball in the box, but her chip shot from the right side toward the open net was high and over the crossbar.

Winthrop reserve goalkeeper Caroline Duncan kept the match deadlocked when she made a diving save on an attempt by Asare at the 56:57 mark.  O’Berry responded with her own diving stop on a shot by Freda in the 70th minute.  In the 75th minute, Duncan leapt to push Kelly Anthony’s shot off the crossbar.

Neither team seriously threatened in the first overtime session, although the Lady Eagles did earn a free kick just outside the penalty area in the middle of the field.

In the second extra period, FMU senior Chanel Harris got her head on an Anthony corner kick at 104:22, but her attempt sailed high.  In the 107th minute, Megan David played a ball ahead to Puckett who dribbled in along the end line on the right side of the box.  Her intended cross went across the goalie’s box and crossed the goal line at the 106:13 mark for the match-winner.

Francis Marion outshot Winthrop 13-10 and held a slight 6-4 advantage in corner kicks.

O’Berry inched closer to the Patriot career record for saves with three on Saturday.  The junior has 269 career stops, second on the all-time list and only 18 shy Jacque Sutphin’s school mark.

Duncan earned the win for the Lady Eagles as she made four saves, while Henderson registered one save in her 45 minutes of action.

Winthrop University (4-6-0) def. Francis Marion Univ. (0-10-0) 2-1 2OT
Date: Oct 04, 2014  Attendance: 153
Weather: 75, Partly Cloudy, Winds WNW @ 9 mph

Goals by period          1  2 OT O2  Tot
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Winthrop University.   1  0  0  1 -  2
Francis Marion Univ.  1  0  0  0 -  1
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  16:39 WU FREDA, Krystyna (8) (RADLER, Grace) - header ahead, 19-yd shot from top of box over diving keeper
1-1.  27:02 FMU_W Elizabeth Asare (3) (unassisted) - 15 yd shot off rebound and failed clearance
2-1. 106:13 WU PUCKETT, Devin (4) (DAVID, Megan) - Ball played ahead, cross from right side finds its way into the goal

Shots: Winthrop University 10, Francis Marion Univ. 13 ; Saves: Winthrop University 5 (DUNCAN, Caroline 4; HENDERSON, Amelia  1), Francis Marion Univ. 3 (Taylor O'Berry 3)

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