CHARLESTON, S.C. - Toni Lashley scored her first goal of the season, connecting on a shot in the final 11 minutes of the second half by poking the ball past the oncoming Taylor O'Berry and into the back of the net to give the Bucs a lead they would not relinquish as Charleston Southern topped Francis Marion on Monday evening, 1-0.

Emma Faubert launched the ball from the middle of the field, clearing the backline to Lashley, who had a defender on her back as she chased down the ball. LAshley and O'Berry reached it at the same time and the foot of the CSU senior won the contest and slid the ball into the lower left corner of the net for her first goal of the season.

Charleston Southern improves to 1-1-0 with the victory, avenging a 3-1 loss to Francis Marion last season on the road. The Patriots fall to 0-1-0 in their first action of the season.

"I'm excited about it [first win of the season]," commented Terrill on the victory at Blackbaud. "This is a team that beat us 3-1 last year and to come back the next year and get a win in an unfamiliar stadium, I think shows how we are gelling together as a team. Coach Pitts always has his teams ready to go and they come out with a lot of energy. Even at the end of the game, the last 15 minutes after our goal, they played with a lot of energy and never gave up."

Francis Marion challenged CSU goalkeeper Dana McLaughlin early and often, recording 18 shots overall in the game with 10 on target, but the freshman proved up to the task in recording 10 saves, including a crucial lift of a ball up and over the crossbar in the closing minutes of the second half to preserve her first collegiate shutout.

"Dana has been key for us in both games," said Terrill on the play of his freshman keeper. "She has made some huge saves and she has been steady. She is a freshman and will only get better with more playing time. She made a few mistakes but was good overall tonight. She has been huge for us when it's matters and been a rock back there."

Yasmin Bunter recorded the opening shot of the contest for the Patriots at the 10:28 mark and Caroline Edmonds quickly followed, but both attempts were corralled by McLaughlin in the early minutes of the contest.

The Bucs challenged back at the 19:23 mark as Chelsea Phillips nearly had her second goal in as many games to open the season after stabbing the ball away from the goalkeeper and had a shot on an open net. However, Kristyn Leung made a great play, getting in the way of the shot attempt and deflecting it back into play to stop the Bucs.

Elizabeth Asare provided a threat for the Patriots late in the first half as she drove the ball through the CSU defense and worked her way into the right corner of the goal box, giving her a slight angle in a one-on-one with McLaughlin. However, the shot attempt settled in McLaughlin's arms to keep the shutout intact and the match scoreless at the half.

Chanel Harris nearly provided some fireworks for the Patriots in the second half, launching six shots over the final 45 minutes of the game, including one from 35 yards out that sailed over McLaughlin's hands and off the crossbar, but the Patriots were unable to take advantage of the play and CSU cleared the ball to end the threat.

The Bucs struck for their lone goal in the contest at the 79:16 mark as Lashley received the pass from Faubert and the CSU active leading goal scorer found the back of the net from the top of the box to put Charleston Southern ahead for good.

"It was an awesome pass from Emma (Faubert)," said Lashley on the scoring opportunity on the goal. "I was able to sneak past the goalkeeper and put it in. The crowd was awesome tonight. They saw how intense the game was against College of Charleston and how well we played tonight, so hopefully our fans will continue to come out and support us."

Lashley nearly made it two in a row at the 86:43 mark to seal the game, but her header deflected off the crossbar and her second attempt was collected by O'Berry to end the Bucs' threat.

Charleston Southern remains at home as the Buccaneers begin the Nike Tournament this weekend, hosting Canisius on Friday afternoon with kickoff at 4 p.m., while the Bucs take on Jacksonville State on Sunday, with game time set for 2 p.m.