MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - It took only 90 minutes of play to find a winner of the Silver Cup as Collge of Charleston beat the hard fought Charleston Southern Lady Buccaneers 3-1 on Friday evening at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

In the early minutes of the match the Charleston Southern Lady Bucs settled into the game as they had a few chances to score early on College of Charleston in the first half. Some feisty play from Casey Bolduc along with some good possession by Rebecca Hollstegge and Caroline Eriksson got the Lady Bucs into their game plan.

College of Charleston pressured Amy Arroyo with a lot of long range shots and some crosses into the box early, but Arroyo was up to the test. A battle to win the midfield was the main issue of the first half as both team struggled to get a hold of the ball and maintain possession.

At the 27 minute mark, a 30 yard flighted diagonal ball from Hannah Gmerek landed on the foot of Sarah Schaidle. Schaidle had a great first touch and with her second the ball found the back of the net. That goal got the Cougars on the board after a hand full of near misses. The first half finished with both teams searching to find their legs and keep the ball as they seemed out of gas.

The start of the second half saw the Cougars all over the Lady Bucs getting numerous chances at goal but nothing could find its way past the Lady Bucs defense. After a number of point blank saves by Arroyo,the Cougars got their second goal at the 55 minute mark after a crossed ball by Lindsay Frey landed at the feet of Haley Hutchens, who had a strike that grazed the crossbar and snuck in. The Lady Bucs got on the board by a great piece of individual skill and a wonderful strike from Chelsea Phillips. Phillips collected the ball on the right edge of the box and had a full on crack at goal that ended up in the left corner of the net.

After being on the back foot for the start of the second half, CSU found their legs and started piecing together attacks that caused the Cougars to panic in the back. As the half moved along at a fast pace both teams kept up the high pressure on both sides of the ball. The game continued its physical nature with both teams collecting double digits in fouls, which comes with a rivalry such as this. Both teams pushed forward and in the 88th minute College of Charleston hit with a dagger to the Lady Bucs comeback. Hope Atkinson played a through ball to McCallie Jones who beat two defenders and slotted her goal past an outstretched Arroyo.

The match concluded with a 3-1 Cougar win but the Lady Bucs have some good experience from this match that can be taken into the rest of the season. The Lady Bucs will be back in action as they take a two game road trip up north to face The University of Maine and The University of New Hampshire on the 26th and 28th of this month.