CHARLESTON, SC – Mariana Garcia’s goal in the 81^st minute of play lifted The Citadel Bulldogs to a 2-1 victory over the Winthrop Eagles on Thursday afternoon in non-conference women’s soccer action.

The Eagles fall to 1-1 on the season, while the Bulldogs improve to 1-1 overall.

Garcia’s goal came on a corner kick opportunity for The Citadel on the far side. Ruth Leiva put the ball into a crowd of players at the near post, where Garcia was able to deflect the ball past Winthrop goalkeeper Sarah Schippers and into the net.

The Eagles came out in the first five minutes of the contest and had two scoring opportunities from Krystyna Freda, but were not able to show anything for it. In the third minute Freda had a one-on-one opportunity against a Bulldog defender after goalkeeper Laura Serafino was caught outside of the box. Freda was unable to capitalize as her shot from the near side missed right of the net. In the fourth minute she had another chance from outside the 18-yard box, but Serafino made a diving save to her left.

The Citadel responded with five chances of their own throughout the first half, but Schippers prevented each chance with a save. The Citadel broke through in the 41^st minute to make it 1-0 on a goal from Amy Laughran just outside the 18-yard box. The Winthrop defense was able to prevent a chance off the initial corner kick, but Laughran was there for the rebound and put her one-timer past Schippers into the left side of the net.

The Bulldogs outshot the Eagles 10-4 and 7-1 in shots on-goal during the first half, and led 2-1 in corner kicks. Schippers had six saves at intermission, while Freda and Kelly Clark recorded two shots each. The Citadel was led by Vanessa Aponte with four shots, and Serafino had one save.

Winthrop tied the contest at 1-1 in the 71^st minute on Ariel Kunde’s first goal of the season from just beyond the six-yard box. Devin Puckett’s initial shot on the near side was blocked by Serafino, but the ball bounced away from her to Kunde on the far side. Kunde took advantage and scored on the rebound shot.

For the match, The Bulldogs outshot Winthrop 18-14 overall and 10-7 in attempts on-net, while holding an advantage in corner kicks 6-5.

Clark had a team-high four shots for the Eagles offensively, and Schippers tied her career-high with eight saves. Aponte led The Citadel with five shots and Serafino finished with six saves.

Winthrop will be back in action on Sunday, Aug. 28 with a 12 p.m. contest against the College of Charleston Cougars in Charleston, SC.

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