Behind a dominant second half performance, the Charleston Southern Lady Bucs cruised to a 4-1 victory over Presbyterian Saturday at Buccaneer Field, providing the team with its first winning streak on the season.

Things were not necessarily easy for the Bucs in the early-going of this encounter, however. Michelle Dennis (Ann Arbor, Mich.) found herself in behind the defense twice in the first 10 minutes and was once saved by Blue Hose starting goalkeeper Erin Sinkuler, and Marky Boyce (Woodbridge, Va.) forced Sinkuler to come off her line to deny an opportunity off a CSU corner.

But it would be Presbyterian that would record the first goal of the day, as a cross from Tricia Bryan nearly eluded the reach of CSU goalie Jena Uvalle (Mt. Dora, Fla.), leaving the ball for Presby's Christy Howard to finish into an open net in the 13th minute.

The goal shook off any cobwebs the Bucs may have been suffering from, as the offense would prove to be relentless for almost the entirety of the remaining 77 minutes. CSU's best opportunities in the goal's immediate aftermath included Jen Vroman (Piscataway, N.J.) striking the post and Dennis and Catenacci's efforts inside the box, which were both blocked away by the PC defense, in the 18th minute. Boyce also found Jessica Kim surging from the back in the 20th, but Kim's excellent cross to Dennis at the near post was fired over the bar.

With so much pressure on the Presbyterian net, goals were inevitable, and the first would come in the 38th minute. Catenacci controlled the ball in midfield, where she spotted Vroman exploiting the opening in the Blue Hose defense on the far side of the field. Vroman expertly picked out Emma Mattsson (Helsingborg, Sweden) open in a dangerous position, and the Swede cooly finished for her third marker on the year to level the score.

In spite of the even score, Eric Terrill's squad had to be satisfied with a 10-5 shots and 3-1 corner kick advantage in the first half. Yet, the best would be to come for the Bucs, as in the second half they would put together their best 45 minutes on the season thus far.

It didn't take long for the Bucs to begin their onslaught, as a well orchestrated one-two between Rose Marie Senise (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Boyce resulted in the latter receiving the ball from Senise in the middle of field. Boyce confidently struck the ball between backup Presby goalkeeper Abby Young and the lower near post to provide the Lady Bucs with a lead they would not relinquish.

Senise continued to be dangerous in attack following the goal, with a cross and a well-worked play between herself, Boyce and Vroman nearly resulting in goals. The Blue Hose would have the next best chance to score, however, as in the 59th Ashley Cook fired a strong shot toward the net. Uvalle was on hand to make a sprawling, sure-handed save that almost certainly ranks as her finest on the season.

After Alyssa Clay (Littleton, Colo.), Dennis and Vroman nearly missed the target and Brittany Bolick (Boone, N.C.) shut down a strong run by Presbyterian's Kate Baker, the Lady Bucs would get their third and fourth goals in lightning-quick succession thanks to the continued excellence of both Dennis and Mattsson.

The Michigan freshman was the first to feature, as her ability to elude the final defender forced the Blue Hose to foul her just outside the box. Mattsson stepped forward to take the free kick from prime goal-scoring position, and she did not disappoint, as a curling shot found safe landing in PC's net in the 75th.

The duo duplicated their efforts not one minute later when Mattsson picked out Dennis inside the box, allowing Dennis to finish past an opposing goalkeeper for the seventh time on the season.

The assist gave Mattsson five points for the game, tying the season-high set by none other than Dennis earlier this season against USC-Upstate.

There would be no further scoring, but there would be plenty more action, as Uvalle earned a matter of revenge when Howard failed to convert a penalty kick in the 79th, and Alissa Schoblaski (Littleton, Colo.) twice went close in the game's final ten minutes.

The win sends CSU to 6-4-0 on the season as they prepare for a busy week ahead that will feature three games in a five day stretch, beginning at South Carolina State Tuesday, continuing at home versus Howard on Thursday, and finishing Saturday at Big South foe UNC-Asheville.