Atkinson Goal Lifts Cougars

Sunday, August 24

Patriots Point

12 p.m.

College of Charleston

North Florida

8/24/2008 4:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

By: CofCSports.com

Freshman Hope Atkinson headed in a goal in the 69^th minute, to propel the College of Charleston women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over North Florida on Sunday at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

With the win, the Cougars begin the season with wins in their first two matches. North Florida drops to 0-1-1 after the defeat.

“Today's game was a battle of wills with all the heat we had to deal with,” said head coach Kevin Dempsey. “We just found a will to win against a very good North Florida team. Winning the first two games of the year is great, but we have to build off of this”

After both teams failed to score in the first half, North Florida threatened in the 55^thminute. Goalie Erin Smith made a diving save that deflected the shot off the top post of the goal, stopping the scoring threat.

Charleston challenged several times throughout the period and finally broke through in the 69^th minute when Atkinson took a pass from Megan Manthey and headed it in for what turned out to be the game-winner.

“It's exciting to see a freshman like Hope score two goals in the first two games of her career.”

The Cougars return to action on Friday, August 29^th when they visit USC-Upstate, with game time set for 7:30 p.m. North Florida travels to Georgia State for a 3 p.m. match on September 5^th.