ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Presbyterian College women's soccer team took a 1-0 second half lead over Winthrop on Thursday night thanks to a Sara Simpson (Columbia, S.C.) goal, but two late Winthrop scores gave the Eagles a win, 2-1.
PC moves to 3-11-2 on the year and 1-4-2 in Big South play. Winthrop improves to 9-6-0 overall and 5-2-0 in league action.
The Blue Hose led 1-0 after Simpson's third goal of the year in the 66th minute but Winthrop answered twice in the 79th minute.
Simpson scored in her second straight game and tied Gracie Boswell (Simpsonville, S.C.) for the team lead in goals, with three. Boswell picked up an assist for her third of the year.
PC goalkeeper Sarah Beth Anderson (Grayson, Ga.) made six saves in the effort, including four in the second half.
The Blue Hose outshot the Eagles by a 16 to 15 count, the second time this season PC has tallied more shots than an opponent. PC also put seven shots on goal, including two each from Simpson, Rebecca Miller (Pauline, S.C.) and Catie Smith (Greenville, S.C.).
Smith and Miller tested Winthrop goalkeeper Sarah Schippers once each in the first half but neither team scored as the sides entered halftime tied, 0-0.
Miller posted the first shot of the second half but it would be Simpson who scored for the Blue Hose.
Boswell found Simpson with a cross and the sophomore beat a defender before firing the ball into the net from 23 yards out. The goal gave PC a 1-0 lead midway through the second half as Simpson became the first PC player to score in consecutive games this year.
PC attempted to build on its lead with shots on goal from Smith and Simpson while Anderson made a stop on a Winthrop scramble less than five minutes after PC took the lead. A Lia Gorden shot hit the crossbar and the PC keeper stopped a rebound opportunity from Grace Radler to keep Winthrop scoreless.
The Eagles struck twice in the 79th minute, however, to take the lead and the match. Tori Davis finished a Devin Puckett cross with a header goal and Krystyna Freda scored 11 seconds later, converting from 16 yards away.
The Blue Hose attack created shots for Brittany Whitson (Conyers, Ga.) and Boswell as Anderson made her final save in the 88th minute on the other end, but the clock ran out with Winthrop ahead, 2-0.
PC faces Gardner-Webb on Saturday in its final road game of the season. Kickoff in Boiling Springs, N.C., is slated for 4 p.m.
