Bucs shut out Winthrop, 2-0, to remain undefeated at home in October

Wednesday, October 14

3 pm

Charleston Southern University Athletics

5-5-2, 2-3

Winthrop

4-7-2, 1-4-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Winthrop	0	0	0
Charleston So.	1	1	2

Bucs shut out Winthrop, 2-0, to remain undefeated at home in October

10/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Lydia Frierson scored on a first half penalty kick and Anna Sells connected on her seventh goal of the season late in the contest as Charleston Southern shutout visiting Winthrop on Wednesday afternoon at the CSU Soccer Field, 2-0.

Alyssa Dellacqua recorded her second shutout of the season in the net as the freshman goalkeeper stopped all eight Eagles shots on goal in the contest.

"Getting a win here today is really big for us," said CSU head coach Eric Terrill. "Playing three games in four days, any time you lose, it takes a couple of days to kind of shake off the effects from that game. Now when we play tomorrow, there is a big, emotional impact on how we will be ready to play."

It is a quick turnaround time for the Bucs as CSU hosts Presbyterian on Thursday afternoon. Kickoff at the CSU Soccer Field between the Big South opponents is set for 4 p.m. on the Big South Network.

Charleston Southern improves to 5-5-2, 2-3 in Big South play with the win and the offense was clicking early as CSU recorded eight of the first nine shots in the game led by Sells and Frierson.

"We've been focusing on finishing on our shots," said Terrill. "We've had plenty of opportunities but we haven't been scoring as much as we should be. We did a really good job today; our combinations were better and our possession was better. Defensively, I thought we played a typical game for us: we were organized."

The defense was boosted by a strong performance by the backline in support of Dellacqua, who entered the contest sixth in the NCAA in saves per game (7.67) and eighth in the NCAA in save percentage (0.902).

"Dellacqua is just a smart, smart player," Terrill commented. "She takes away a lot of the mystery of the game. Anything coming her way, she is tactically aware of where she needs to be and where everyone else is. We've got three really good keepers and it has been a great competition for us all season. She has been there on every level for us."

The Buccaneers broke the seal on the net at the 7:20 mark as Frierson converted a penalty kick for her first goal of the 2015 season. The play was set up by a shot by Sells that was deflected off a Winthrop defender's hand inside the box, setting up the opportunity.

CSU nearly added to their lead on three separate occasions in the first half as shaky play by the Winthrop backline and goalkeeper nearly contributed to the CSU offense. Erica Gazzani's header in the 13th minute was tipped by Caroline Duncan, before she caught it in front of the end line.

Sidney Doherty nearly added a goal in the 18th minute as the freshman forward hustled and deflected Duncan's clearance attempt. However, the deflected trailed wide left of the net and rolled out of play before CSU could chase it down. Sells added a shot in the 21st minute that trailed wide right after stealing the ball from the Eagles defense.

Just before half, Gina Cox nearly scored for the Bucs as well with her shot in the 42nd minute deflected straight down off the crossbar, but Duncan was able to collect it before it trickled over the goal line.

Winthrop nearly had the equalizer in the 53rd minute as Courtney McLeod caught the CSU defense off guard with a shot from 20 yards out. However, her shot rolled to the left of the net to keep the CSU shutout intact.

Sells clinched the Bucs win in the 80th minute as the junior forward scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season off the pass from Cox from 14 yards out. Cox advanced the ball in from the midfield and found Sells open on the left wing, and she finished with her left foot to give CSU the 2-0 lead.

The Bucs held on to the ball the remainder of the game as Winthrop was unable to set up an attack in closing out the win.