ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop women’s soccer team scored two goals in the final 22 minutes of action on Thursday evening as it defeated the High Point Panthers 2-0 at Eagle Field.

The Eagles improve to 6-5 on the season and 2-1 in the Big South, while the Panthers fall to 4-8-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

“It was a good performance by our girls tonight,” said head coach Spencer Smith. “We really battled hard and took advantage of our attacking opportunities. It was a good result for us to get three points at home. It was what we needed to do. High Point is an excellent team and I am excited for the win.”

Neither team was able to manufacture a goal in the opening half as High Point led Winthrop in shots at 11-5 and 5-3 in shots on-goal. The Panthers also held a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.

Krystyna Freda netted her team-leading eighth goal of the season in the 69^th minute of play to put Winthrop ahead of High Point 1-0. Lia Gorden’s through ball set up the goal as Freda was able to beat two Panther defenders in the middle of the field and put her shot past goalkeeper Andrea Ritchie into the far side of the net. The goal by Freda was also her fourth game-winning goal of the season.

Freda would help extend the Eagles lead over High Point to 2-0 in the 85^th minute as her pass to Kylene Babauta set up the second goal. Babauta took the pass from Freda outside the 18-yard box near side and placed her shot over the head of a leaping Ritchie just inside the far post. It was Babauta’s first career goal at Winthrop.

The Panthers finished the match with a 19-10 lead in shots and 8-7 in shots on-goal. High Point also led 6-2 in corner kicks.

Freda and Courtney Durbin led the Eagles offensively with three shots each, while goalie Sarah Schippers grabbed eight saves and picked up her first career shutout. Jacky Kessler attempted a team-high five shots for the Panthers, and Ritchie finished with five saves.

Winthrop will remain in Big South play on Saturday, Oct. 8 as it hosts the Liberty Flames at 7 p.m.

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