Hartsville, S.C. – The Lady Cobras soccer team nearly picked up their first win of the 2009 season on Thursday night, but a couple of fingertip saves by Mount Olive goalkeeper  Lyndsey McIntyre (Leesburg, Va.) secured the 3-2 win for the Trojans. The win give the Mount Olive their first Conference Carolinas win of the season and improves them to 3-3-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference, while Coker falls to 0-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Coker was first to notch a goal just six minutes into the game, as Bridget Clark (Irmo, S.C.) sent Sarah Kinsey (Windermere, Fla.) a cross into the box that Kinsey put home with a one-timer pas t the keeper. The Trojans evened things at one apiece with an unassisted goal from Lindsey Stanley (Eastover, N.C.) in the 24th minute and then a goal in the 32nd minute from Nia Celata (Fayetteville, N.C.) on an assist from Mary Knepp (Severna Park, Md.) gave Mount Olive the 2-1 lead at the half.

The Trojans quickly gave themselves some breathing room in the second half, thanks to a breakaway goal by Tia Rose in the 55th minute. The Lady Cobras were not ready to toss in the towel just yet, and in the 72nd minute Jill Giguere (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) blasted a shot from 30 yards out to pull the game within one.

In the stretch the Lady Cobras continued to press the Trojan defense and it was McIntyre’s two saves that held the Mount Olive lead and eventually led to the win.

Coker goalkeeper Margaret McCoy (Columbia, S.C.) had some big saves of her own, stopping eight shots and winning more than her fair share of challenges in the box.

Coker returns to action on Saturday, as they travel to Due West, S.C. to face Erskine College in their second conference match of the week. Kick-off is slated for 2:00 p.m.