ROCK HILL, SC— Winthrop allowed two second half goals in a 3-1 loss to High Point, Wednesday evening in Big South Conference men's soccer action.
Winthrop falls to 3-6-1 overall and 1-2 in the Big South while High Point improved 7-2-1 and 2-0 in the league.
The game winner came just 44 seconds into the second half as Shawn Sloan took a pass from Scott Rojo into the box and from a tough angle, chipped the ball over the head of Tom Banfield and into the side netting. The Eagles tried to even the match up and had some opportunities but High Point held on and added an insurance goal in the 85th minute, another goal by Sloan. After a short corner kick, Sloan found some space and dribbled into the penalty area and fired a shot to the far post, but the shot hit the back of a Winthrop defender and shot the other way into the top corner.
In the 64th minute, Winthrop's Miquel Casajuana took a one touch shot off a drop pass from Andres Pullin, but the initial shot was blocked. Casajuana fought for the ball and attempted another from about eight yards away, but his shot to the low corner was scooped up by Michael Chesler.
The Panthers had a chance to put the game away just a minute prior to Casajuana's chance as Alex Martinez maneuvered his way through two defenders and ripped a low shot that was turned away by Banfield. However, the rebound came out near Fejiro Okiomah in front of the net from about six yards out but he couldn't get around on the ball and his shot toward the open net went over the bar.
About five minutes later, Adam Skonicki chipped a ball over the top of the defense as Tomas Brennan ran onto the ball, but his attempt to place the ball over the keeper and into the net just sailed over the crossbar.
For the second straight game, Winthrop yielded a goal early as Karo Okomah continued his hot streak by netting his eighth of the season in the 3rd minute. Winthrop cleared the ball in the air to midfield, but High Point's Ryan Bennett won a header that went right to Rojo. The header led Rojo heading toward the Eagles goal and as he took a touch to the middle of the field, the Winthrop defense shifted and Rojo placed a pass through to Okiomah running on for the finish.
Winthrop tied the match in the 34th minute when Pullin netted his second goal of the season. Casajuana played a through ball from the left wing that was perfectly place behind the Panthers defense on the ground. Pullin ran on to the pass and slotted a one touch shot in the lower right corner.
High Point had a few chances in the first half, but missed the frame on a couple of shots as well as Tom Banfield making a pair of saves.
In the 29th minute, Tinotenda Chibharo nearly tied the game as he took a shot off a feed from Pullin at the top of the 18 yard box that was heading to the lower right corner until Chesler dove and tipped the ball wide for one of his three first half saves.
For the game, Chesler finished with four saves while Banfield ended with five. High Point had the advantage in shots 15-12.
Winthrop will be off for the next five days and back in action on Tuesday, Oct. 12 when it hosts Virginia Military Institute at 7 p.m. High Point will head to Lynchburg, VA to take on Liberty on Saturday, Oct. 9 at noon.
