CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston's Laura Ortega scored the game-winner off of a free kick with 24 seconds left to lift the Cougars to a 2-1 victory over the William & Mary women's soccer team in the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both teams on Thursday night in Charleston, S.C. With the decision the Tribe falls to 3-6, 0-1 in CAA play, while the Cougars improve to 6-4, 1-0 in league action.
 
Charleston scored the match's first goal in the 67th minute. Ana Lesmes set Talia Colchico free down the left side of the pitch. When Colchico reached the edge of the penalty area she launched her shot into the upper right 90 of the goal.
 
The Tribe found the equalizer in the 72nd minute. Sophomore Colleen Norton found freshman Renee Kohler. Kohler, who was about 20-yards out, rocketed her shot  across the box and off of the crossbar, but it bounced over the line to even the score.  
 
CofC was awarded a free kick on the doorstep on the left side of the penalty area in the match's waning seconds. Ortega, the preseason CAA Player of the Player of the Year, tucked her chance inside the left post to give the Cougars the win.
 
W&M Starters – #1 Briguglio (GK), #6 Dailey, #9 Segan, #12 Kelly, #13 Kohler, #14 Miguelez, #15 Robbins, #17 Bugden, #22 Keith, #23 Frantz, #24 Kuhnle
 
Charleston Starters – #1 Henderson (GK), #4 Brill-Edwards, #9 Beck, #10 Barretto, #17 Kim, #18 Tunney, #19 Lemes, #22 Deutsch, S., #23 Ortega, #24 Deutsch, L., #33 Colchico
 
Goals
67' | Talia Colchico (CofC) (Assist: Ana Lesmes)
72' | Renee Kohler (W&M) (Assist: Colleen Norton)
90' | Laura Ortega (CofC)
 
Inside the Numbers
- Charleston held a 20-8 advantage in shots in the match, which included a 9-4 cushion in shots on-goal.
 
- The Cougars also attempted four corner kicks compared to just one for the Tribe.
 
- Freshman Renee Kohler led the Tribe with three shots, while redshirt junior Sarah Segan had a pair of shots.

Notes
Sophomore Lorena Bugden made her first career start in the match for the Green and Gold … Freshman Renee Kohler added her second goal of the season in the 72nd minute … She is now tied for the team lead with two goals, one assist, and five points ... Sophomore Colleen Norton picked up her second assist of the season ... She now has four points this season on one goal and two assists ... W&M has now scored eight of its 10 goals this season in the second half.
 
Quotable
"It was a tough call with just 22 seconds left, which makes it a hard loss given how hard we battled the whole game. We were able to create some dangerous attacks, especially in the second half. Renee had a great goal off of a clever ball across the box to equalize. We played with good energy and it is still a great game to build from." – Head Women's Soccer Coach Julie Shackford
 
What's Ahead
The Tribe concludes its two-game CAA opening road trip as it travels to Towson to close the weekend on Sunday, Sept. 23. Kickoff between the Tribe and the Tigers is set for 1 p.m.