Western Carolina University opened its women's soccer season with a dramatic 4‑2 victory over Winthrop, erasing a two‑goal halftime deficit to claim a thrilling home win.
A Second‑Half Surge
The Catamounts turned the tide after the break, with Gabriela Vatrano striking twice, the second of which came in the 78th minute to seal the win.
Freshman forward Lauryn Smith opened the scoring in the 30th minute, becoming the first rookie to net a career goal for WCU since 2012, while Samantha Vibberts equalized from the spot to make it 2‑2 before the interval.
Goalkeeper Amara Yetka preserved the lead with three second‑half saves, including a crucial stop on a corner kick that kept Winthrop at bay.
The win marks WCU's first home‑opening triumph since a 6‑1 victory over UNC Asheville in 2024 and underscores the team's depth, as 24 players saw action and no starter completed the full 90 minutes.