ROCK HILL, SC— The Winthrop soccer team, led by freshman Darrell Vydra’s hat trick, handed High Point a 7-0 loss Wednesday night in Big South Conference action.
The Eagles (3-2-1, 1-0) jumped ahead on a goal by Kevin Green. Gareth Hayden had a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who made the save, but Green was there to put the ball into the net. Vydra scored the next two goals. He scored off a deflection on a corner kick in the 38th minute and then stole the ball at midfield and scored on a breakaway in the 41st minute to give Winthrop a 3-0 halftime lead.
Winthrop continued to pour it on in the second half as Thomas Gibson scored his fourth goal of the year on a header off a corner kick by Jose Figeuro. Vydra picked up the hat-trick in the 60th minute when a bad pass landed at his feet. He then proceeded on a one-on-one with the goalie and slotted the ball into the net. Francis Wakhisi made it 6-0 in the 65th minute as he took a pass from Vydra, spun toward the middle of the box and nailed a shot into the corner for his sixth of the season. Zach Moorer capped off the scoring in the 81st minute with a header off a cross from Will Nova. It was Moorer’s first collegiate goal.
Steve Winton and Andrea Granzotto combined for the shutout. High Point (2-3-1, 1-1-1) had seven shots, but there were no saves by the Eagle goalies. Eric Lona had five saves for the Panthers.
Vydra’s hat trick was the first by an Eagle since last season when Hayden scored three against Southern Wesleyan.
Winthrop will have a non-conference match on Saturday at The Citadel at 11 a.m. High Point will travel to Mercer on Saturday for a 7 p.m. matchup.
