DANVILLE, Va. – Maggie Rankin scored a goal for N.C. Wesleyan College in the 87th minute to pull out a 1-0 conference victory over the Averett University women's soccer team on Friday afternoon at Daly Field.   
 
Rankin headed the ball in off a corner kick from Ella Burkhart to give N.C. Wesleyan (3-4-1, 1-2-0 USA South) its first conference win of the season. Averett (0-5-1, 0-2-0 USA South) managed to hold off N.C. Wesleyan in the first half and allowed only four shots, but the Battling Bishops attacked the goal in the second period. They fired 12 shots as the Cougars' goalkeeper Ashley Jones snagged five saves. On the offensive end, the Cougars worked to get past N.C. Wesleyan's backline for good shot selections but couldn't connect on its attempts. Averett finished with three shots on goal out of six total as N.C. Wesleyan attempted 16 shots with six on target.
 
The Cougars return to Daly Field tomorrow, Sept. 26, for more conference action. They host Piedmont College at 2 p.m. with a men's game to follow at 4:30 p.m.