Liberty University
11-3-1, 7-0-1BSC
Winthrop
6-8-1, 2-5-1BSC
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winthrop | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Liberty | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Liberty Rallies in Second Half to Remain Unbeaten in Big South
10/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Trailing 1-0 in the second half, the Liberty women's soccer team roared back with a trio of goals, defeating Winthrop, 3-1, Wednesday afternoon at Osborne Stadium.
Forwards Alanna Dunkle and Crystal Elmers each posted goals on the day and are tied for the team lead with five apiece. Junior midfielder Madison Kauzlarich followed up with Liberty's third marker, while freshman forward Jennifer Knoebel finished the contest with two assists. Knoebel is now second on the squad with five helpers.
With the win, Liberty moves to 11-3-1 overall and sits atop the conference standings with a 7-0-1 record. The Lady Flames extend their program-best unbeaten streak to 10 games (9-0-1), having not tasted defeat since a 1-0 loss to George Washington on Sept. 7. Winthrop falls to 6-8-1 and 2-5-1 in conference action.
Goalkeeper Holly Van Noord played all 90 minutes in between the posts, finishing with eight saves. Winthrop netminder Ameila Henderson played the entire contest for the Eagles, making six saves.
In the first half, both goalkeepers fended off multiple close-call attempts on goal. In the eighth minute, midfielder Brittany Aanderud banked a shot off the post, which Dunkle followed up seconds later. Henderson was there to make the stop, preventing the potential early goal.
Van Noord made five saves in the first half, including highlight reel stop in 38th minute. Grace Radler blasted a shot on goal, which Van Noord tapped overtop the frame, keeping the game scoreless at halftime.
The Eagles struck in the opening 13 seconds of the second period. Devin Puckett found an open Samantha Prytulak, who broke away from the Liberty defense and tapped the ball into the lower left corner for the 1-0 lead.
Dunkle evened the odds in the 64th minute. Sprinting down the field, Dunkle eluded a defender and airmailed a shot from the far side of the 18-yard box, bending it into the upper left corner to make it 1-1.
Nearly 10 minutes later, Knoebel drove down the right side of the field and fed a pass to Elmers. Surrounded by a quartet of Eagle defenders, Elmers took a shot from 15 yards out, slipping the ball into the lower left corner for the 2-1 lead.
Knoebel once again made a cameo on Liberty's third and final goal, dishing a pass to Kauzlarich. The midfielder booted a 22-yard shot from the right side, sending it into the upper left corner for the 3-1 final.
Liberty heads to the beach for a clash with Coastal Carolina, Friday. The match time in Conway, S.C. is slated for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Samantha Prytulak (4)
Assisted By: Devin Puckett
*Long pass to 8, tapped into left corner
45:13
DUNKLE, Alanna (5)
* Eludes defender, shot from left side o
63:15
ELMERS, Crystal (5)
Assisted By: KNOEBEL, Jennifer
* Counter attack, 20 fed to 13 into box,
73:02
KAUZLARICH, Madison (4)
Assisted By: KNOEBEL, Jennifer
* Left footed shot from right side top l
77:52
