CHARLESTON, S.C. – The College of Charleston women's soccer team celebrated its senior class with a late game-winner from Laura Ortega to defeat conference leading Northeastern on Sunday afternoon. Ortega's goal also moves her into a tie for first place on the all-time career goals list at The College and confirms Charleston with a Colonial Athletic Association playoff spot with two games remaining.

Previously undefeated in CAA play, the Huskies (9-7-1, 6-1 CAA) started on the back-foot with Sara Deutsch taking the first effort at goal with a looping volley in the 11^th minute.

Minutes later Alyssa Beck played a pin-point pass behind the Huskies defense for Ortega, but the goalkeeper just beat out the Charleston forward to stop the attack.

The Cougars (9-6-1, 4-2-1 CAA) continued to press forward and were rewarded with the game's first goal in the 27^th minute. Beck crossed from the left wing with the ball eventually falling to Ali Freitas 15-yards out. The senior took a touch out her feet and calmly slotted into the bottom right corner to give CofC the lead with her first goal of the season.

On the stroke of half-time the Huskies found a goal. Katarina Nilsson finished into the top left corner from the right edge of the box to level the score at 1-1.

In the 75^th minute Megan Classer nearly found the game winner with an effort that was tipped onto the crossbar, the freshman coming close again minutes later with Nathalie Nidetch saving from point-blank range.

As the game entered the final stages Ortega struck with the game-winner. A cross from the left wing rebounded to the senior at the box of the box. She created half a yard of space before firing an effort from 20-yards that took a deflection and flew into the top right corner to give Charleston the 2-1 victory.

The goal moves Ortega into a tie for first on the all-time career goals list with 24 and guarantees Charleston a top-six finish in the CAA standings. The win is also the first over Northeastern in program history.

Head coach Christian Michner and his squad now look to the final two CAA matches against UNCW on Thursday night and Hofstra on Sunday.

Quotables – Head Coach Christian Michner
"I've gotta give credit to the team, honestly the seniors have been leaders since the moment they stepped on campus, it was no different today. We knew it was a special day and obviously playing the top of the league, a team we hadn't beaten in our time here [in the CAA], I'm absolutely over the moon at how we pressed and played and scored some great goals… they deserved to win."

Notables
• The College guarantee a play-off spot with a top-six finish in the CAA
• Laura Ortega is now in a tie for first place in the all-time goals list at The College (24 goals)
• Ali Freitas scored her first goal of the season
• Meredith Holton recorded her first win of the season in goal
• Five student-athletes played the full 90 minutes (Barreto, Kim, Tunney, S. Deutsch, L. Deutsch)