Winthrop women's soccer team upsets No. 1 Liberty in Big South tourney

From staff reports

CHARLESTON -- The eighth-seeded Winthrop Lady Eagles battled the top-seeded Liberty Flames through 110 minutes on Thursday at Blackbaud Stadium and came away with a 5-4 win on penalty kicks to advance to the semifinals of the Big South Conference women's soccer tournament.

The Lady Eagles improved to 5-10-4 on the season, while the Flames conclude their season at 9-7-3.

“I'm ecstatic,” Winthrop coach Melissa Heinz said. “I'm somewhat emotional for the fact the team just played with every ounce of their heart, mind and bodies. That's what we had to have today.”

Winthrop had the best scoring opportunity of the first half during the 27th minute after Lia Gordon broke free from the Liberty defense for a one-on-one chance against goalkeeper Ashley Nyholt. Gordon's shot hit the top crossbar, bounced straight down and was cleared out by Nyholt.

The Flames had a similar chance in the 58th after Aimee Luurtsema received a cross inside the 18-yard box, but her shot sailed high of the net.

The Lady Eagles tried to respond in the 59th minute, but Allie VandeWater's initial shot was blocked from 9 yards out, and Kylie Long's follow-up shot went high.

Winthrop got on the board first in the penalty kick round courtesy of Courtney Durbin. Silvia Betancourt answered back for Liberty to make it 1-1. Stevie Lucas and Lindsay Taylor made it 3-1 in favor of the Lady Eagles with their back-to-back goals, but the Flames rallied with consecutive goals to tie the game at 3. Both teams traded goals in the eighth round of kicks, but the difference-maker came when Long put Winthrop in front 5-4. Jordan Woody attempted to extend the game further, but goalkeeper Sarah Schippers, who entered the game in place of Kelsy Weavil for the penalty kicks, made a diving save to give the Lady Eagles the hard-fought victory.

“Liberty is a phenomenal team,” Heinz added. “We had to come out and give our best. It had to be our best the whole time.”

The victory gives Winthrop its second win in all-time Big South tournament play. Its last victory came against the Flames at Blackbaud Stadium, a 3-2 double overtime thriller during the 2007 season.

The Lady Eagles outshot Liberty 19-15 and held a 5-4 advantage in shots on-goal. The Flames led in corner kicks, 4-3.

VandeWater led Winthrop in total shots with five and had a team-high two shots on-goal. Weavil finished the match with four saves.

Madison Short took a team-best six shots for Liberty, while Luurtsema had two shots on-target.

“I'm excited about (today),” Heinz said. “If we bring this energy and work ethic, we'll find ourselves playing on Sunday.”

The Lady Eagles will play fifth-seeded VMI, who beat fourth-ranked Coastal Carolina in penalty kicks, at 4:30 p.m. today at Blackbaud Stadium. The Keydets defeated Winthrop 1-0 in Lexington, Va., on Oct. 18.