ROCK HILL, SC— 25th Ranked College of Charleston struck twice late in the game to hand the Winthrop men's soccer team a 3-1 loss, Tuesday evening in non-conference action.
The loss is the second straight for the Eagles as they fall to 4-8-1 on the year while College of Charleston is 10-2-2 and has not lost in the last 12 matches.
The Cougars scored two goals in a three-minute span to break a 1-1 tie and cruise to its 10th win of the season. Winthrop had won the previous three meetings.
Sean de Silva scored the game-winner in the 79th minute as he fought between two defenders, flicked a header toward Winthrop keeper Michael Flato and the header hit Flato and squeaked by toward the goal. At that point de Silva outran everyone to the ball and placed the shot into the open net for his sixth goal of the year. Moments later, the Cougars took advantage of another rebound off a shot as Jake Helmig put away his own rebound for his third of the season.
“Obviously disappointed in the loss,” said Winthrop head coach Rich Posipanko. “We played well enough to deserve a win, but in the end we made two errors that cost us. However, there are a lot of positives we can take away from the game tonight. Mainly our work rate and intensity, pretty good decision making and wanting to compete.”
Shawn Ferguson put CofC on the board first in the 52nd minute as he scored his second goal of the season. Ralph Lundy served a free kick into the box straight on from goal and Ferguson redirected the ball toward goal on a diving header.
Less than two minutes later the Eagles tied the match as Miquel Casajuana scored his third goal of the season off a free kick. The Eagles were awarded a free kick about 23-yards out after Matt Stinson was fouled from behind taking a shot. Casajuana bent the ball around the wall and into the left corner for the goal. It is the fourth match Casajuana has played against College of Charleston in his collegiate career and he has scored a goal in each of the meetings.
Three minutes into the match, Winthrop had one of its best opportunities when Andres Pullin freed Ted Bartels into space down the wing. Bartels dribbled the ball toward the goal, bringing the goalie and defender toward the ball. He then slid a pass in front of the net about six yards out to Josh Goldstein running on, but the pass was just out of reach.
The other scoring chance Winthrop had in the first half came in the 34th minute when Miquel Casajuana found Tinotenda Chibharo across the field with a long ball. Chibharo settled the pass, cut back to the inside of the field and dribbled toward goal in the open field. After a couple of touches he led Casajuana with a pass inside the 18-yard box from an angle. Casajuana ripped a low shot one touch to the low corner, but Cougars keeper Kees Heemskerk dropped down to make the save.
College of Charleston had a couple of shots from long range, but never got any shots off inside the penalty area. The best shot of the half came off a turnover by the Eagles. Sean Bateau, a defender, won the ball and headed toward goal. He cut back toward the middle of the field and from an angle ripped a shot on frame. The shot started toward the left post and bent back toward the middle of the goal, but Flato was able to reach back and save the ball, forcing it over the end line.
Heemskerk made two saves to earn his 10th win in net while Flato made seven saves. CofC had a 21-9 advantage in shots.
Winthrop will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 23 when it heads to Conway, SC to take on conference foe Coastal Carolina at 2 p.m.
