Laurinburg, NC—Erskine freshman Molly Harpe (Anderson, S.C.) scored with 18 seconds left in regulation to lead the Erskine College women’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Conference Carolinas foe Saint Andrews on Saturday afternoon.
The Flying Fleet won their third game in five days to level their overall record to 6-6-0 while improving their league ledger to 5-3-0. The Lady Knights suffered their first loss at home this season, falling to 4-7-1 overall and 2-4-1 in the conference.
Harpe netted the game-winner in the final minute after gaining control of the loose ball inside the box. Harpe’s team-high sixth goal of the season went unassisted.
Erskine held an 8-3 shot advantage in the first half. The Fleet rattled off four shots on goal in the first eight minutes but SAPC sophomore goalkeeper Becca Knott (Jacksonville, N.C.) made five of her six saves in first 45 minutes to keep the contest scoreless at halftime.
Sophomore Lexi Wilden (Tega Cay, S.C.) provided the Flying Fleet with a 1-0 lead in the 63rd minute. Knott tried to break up a crossing attempt from the right corner by sophomore Lindsay Patterson (Greer, S.C.) by diving for the ball, but the pass made it past the goalie and to the foot of Wilden, who then converted on the wide open shot. Wilden has scored in three straight games.
St. Andrews immediately answered with the equalizer just 27 seconds later. The Knights were awarded a quick corner kick on the re-start and junior Sam Frazer (Goldsboro, N.C.) directed the ball over to Brandenburg, who headed it inside the near post.
Frazer’s assist increased her team-high point total to eight points.
Knights’ sophomore Krystal Hedderman (Fredericksburg, Va.) looked to give the hosts their first lead of the afternoon after stuffing in a goal with 16 minutes and 48 seconds left but the play was waived off on a close offsides call.
The two teams continued to play at a stalemate until Harpe scored the go-ahead goal with just 18 ticks left on the clock.
Junior netminder Si’Ara Washington (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) had two saves in the complete game victory for the Fleet.
Erskine finished with a 15-10 shot edge but SAPC had a sizable 6-1 corner kick advantage.
St. Andrews travels to North Greenville University in Tigerville, S.C., for a non-conference showdown on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Erskine welcomes non-conference foe Mars Hill College to Due West, S.C., on Tuesday at 7 p.m.