NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - Following a scoreless first half, Charleston Southern erupted with three second-half goals to defeat VMI in Big South women's soccer action, 3-0, on Monday afternoon at the CSU Soccer Stadium.

With already wet conditions and rain falling throughout the match, the Bucs (9-4-1, 2-1-1 Big South) and Keydets (4-8, 2-2 Big South) battled to a scoreless tie in the game's opening stanza.  The Bucs finally broke through in the 77th minute, while redshirt junior Caitlin Wesnesky netted her sixth goal of the season to put the hosts up 1-0.

"We played 80 minutes of good soccer despite a pretty terrific, driving rainstorm throughout the first half," said VMI head coach Bryan Williams.  "It was scoreless at halftime, and then it was pretty disappointing to give up that goal.  It came in on a high corner kick that Heidi attempted to punch.  The ball ended up going to their player, who scooped it and put it in.  We had really picked up pressure on them, and that goal came at a pretty inopportune time.  I felt like they were starting to tire, and that goal picked them up.  They were able to stay back and defend against a number of great runs that we made in the next five or six minutes."

CSU put the game away in the final five minutes, scoring twice within 38 seconds.  In the 86th minute, fifth-year senior Lindsey Trexler gave the Bucs a 2-0 lead, while a Rebecca Hollstegge tally in the 87th minute capped the game's scoring.

"I felt like we could've sat back and probably lost 1-0, but with the schedule set up as it is with the travel partners and being on the road, I felt like we should be aggressive," continued Williams.  "We pushed Kelly Morrison into the midfield and went with three forwards, moving Christelle to the right wing and Simone to a center forward.  We had some good opportunities, but we gave them a restart that they scored on, and then the third goal was shortly thereafter.  I felt like we played 80 very solid minutes of soccer and then gave up three goals that should not have been conceded and ended up costing us the game."

"We had very strong play from Audrey Falconi, and also solid play in the midfield from Sarah Strand," said Williams.  "Chrissy Beach had tremendous runs on the left side up the field as well.  I was proud of the way we played against a very tough CSU team at the end of a very long weekend.  To put in 80 quality minutes was very good for us, but coming home without any points really hurts in conference play.  We're looking forward to getting back to Patchin for next weekend."

The Keydets return to action on Friday afternoon, playing host to Gardner-Webb at 4 p.m.  That contest will be broadcast live from Patchin Field on the Big South Network.