CHARLESTON,S.C.- Two second half goals lifted CSU over VMI in Big South Conference play Thursday afternoon, October 6th at Buccaneer Field on the campus Charleston Southern University, in Charleston, S.C.

A pivotal Big South Conference match-up for the Lady Bucs was on tap for Thursday afternoon as they suited up to face VMI. Coming into the match CSU seemed to be looking for themselves as a midseason lapse saw the Lady Bucs drop their first two Big South Conference matches of the year on the road. Wanting to show their home fans and coaching staff what they are made of the Lady Bucs started off a two game home stand against VMI.

In the early going CSU started out with high pressure on the VMI defense but they could not find that allusive pass in the final third of the field. Before the blink of an eye VMI were on the score sheet as Liz Affronti got hold of a Sarah Putney cross and put a well placed shot past CSU keeper Amy Arroyo. CSU and the crowd were stunned by this goal and CSU quickly lifted the tempo up on VMI to get the goal back. At the start and throughout the first half VMI would play an offsides trap, in which they would quickly condense the field leaving the CSU midfielders and defenders the only option of playing a long ball. CSU took what they were given but Coach Terrill quickly had other things in mind as his style of play is possession in which the ball is kept on the deck.

At times the Lady Bucs looked threatening but balls in the final third went astray as it seemed as if the Lady Bucs timing was a bit off. CSU finally got the equalizer in the 27th minute as Toni Lashley found herself yet again on the score sheet. This time supplying the ball to Lashley was Allison Lewis who beat her defender down the line and pulled back a perfect near post cross as Lashley had a clinical finish. Lashley, flicked the ball with the outside of her right foot as most forwards do when making near post runs. Lewis supplied a pinpoint ball as Lashley never had to break stride.

After their first goal CSU found a spark as Gina Thomas and Misty Tatom were inserted into the game to bring on some fresh legs. The Lady Bucs went searching for the second goal but still could not link up passes in the final third to get a good opportunity on goal. As the half came to a close CSU started to impose their will on VMI only to be cut short by the end of play.

The second half saw CSU come out with a lot of intensity. Straight off the kick-off three one two's were played and the end product saw Gina Thomas on the end of a through ball, having a shot on goal only to be blocked for a corner kick. Coaches Eric Terrill and Christi Rostin's halftime talk, kick started the Lady Bucs. Thomas along with Misty Tatom and Chloe Urig got the start in the second half along with the Lady Bucs regulars. All of a sudden CSU was all over top of VMI. An onslaught of attack was on. Urig playing with older sister Olivia Urig, in central defense seemed to be able to get forward letting Anja Djumisic press higher up the field in search for a goal.

CSU got their game winner in the 67th minute, as Rebecca Hollstegge got a ball in midfield, looked up and spotted a streaking Thomas who hit a well driven shot past the VMI keeper. At this point CSU played with an abundance of confidence and did whatever they so chose around the park for the rest of the match. A glancing header from Lashley in the 73rd minute almost saw CSU go up 3-1. Aislinn McIlvenny was played in by Lewis and played a ball chest high to a sprinting Lashley. Lashley, got a head on the cross to send it glancing just high of the VMI goal. Another opportunity thought to arise as Kenandra DeSaussure made a run into the box and waited for a cross to be driven to her only to be blinded sided by a VMI defender. No foul was called on the play but DeSaussure would have her chance later on.

The game was slowly coming to a close when a good defensive play by Andrea Williams started the counter attack. Williams found Morgann Wood who looked up and pinged a 20 yard ball to a streaking DeSaussure who collected the ball and dribbled past an outstretched VMI keeper and slotted home her first career goal and the final goal of the match. The clock wound down and CSU walked away with a hard fought 3-1 victory.

CSU will be back in action on October 8th as they take on Big South foe Radford at 1 p.m., at Buccaneer Field on the campus of Charleston Southern.