CHARLESTON, S.C. — Charleston Southern bounced back from consecutive losses with a convincing 3-1 victory over Presbyterian on Wednesday night, with the Buccaneers' second-half adjustments proving the difference in a match that remained competitive through the opening 45 minutes. The home side's attacking prowl intensified after intermission, ultimately overwhelming a Presbyterian squad that struggled to maintain defensive shape. The win marked Charleston Southern's first victory in three outings.
Presbyterian struck first when Sloan Spees capitalized on a setup from Lindsey Malyszek in the 34th minute, giving the Blue Hose an early advantage. The goal came against the run of play, as Charleston Southern had dominated possession through the first half. The hosts responded with relentless pressure, but Presbyterian's defense held firm through the remainder of the opening period, keeping the match at 1-0 heading into halftime.
The second half told a different story entirely. Charleston Southern came out with renewed intensity and quickly equalized when an own goal leveled the match early in the second period. From that point forward, the Buccaneers controlled the tempo and created consistent opportunities. Jenéa Knight broke through in the 74th minute to give Charleston Southern a 2-1 lead, a goal that shifted momentum decisively in the hosts' favor.
Hailey Swenson sealed the result with a third goal in the 78th minute, assisted by Rachel Gopalakrishnan, putting the match beyond reach. Presbyterian mounted some late pressure but couldn't generate the quality chances needed to threaten a comeback. The Blue Hose finished with seven shots on goal compared to Charleston Southern's four, yet the Buccaneers' clinical finishing in the second half made the difference.
Presbyterian's Lindsey Malyszek and Emilia Lieber created problems throughout the match, with multiple attempts that tested Charleston Southern's resolve. Emma Brown and Lina Müller also contributed to Presbyterian's attacking efforts, but the Blue Hose couldn't find the consistency needed to capitalize on their possession advantage. The visitors earned five corner kicks but failed to convert any into scoring opportunities.
Charleston Southern's goalkeeper made six saves to preserve the victory, while Presbyterian's keeper recorded two stops. The Buccaneers' defensive adjustments in the second half proved crucial, as they limited Presbyterian's most dangerous attacking players and forced the Blue Hose into hurried decisions. Charleston Southern's corner kick defense also improved markedly after halftime, conceding just two set pieces compared to Presbyterian's five.
The result provides Charleston Southern momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. The Buccaneers, now 6-7-4 overall, snapped a two-match losing streak that included defeats to Longwood and Radford. Presbyterian, meanwhile, falls to 3-10-3 and remains in search of consistency after mixing draws with losses in recent weeks.
Charleston Southern returns to action this weekend looking to build on Wednesday's performance, while Presbyterian faces the challenge of regrouping quickly. The Blue Hose's defensive vulnerabilities in the second half will require immediate attention as they prepare for upcoming conference matchups.