ROCK HILL, SC— Winthrop scored a goal in each half as it opened the 2010 season with a 2-0 victory over Brevard College, Friday night in non-conference men's soccer action.
Winthrop got a late goal in the first half to take a 1-0 lead when Miquel Casajuana converted on a penalty shot. Andres Pullin took a nice through ball off the chest, faked a shot and then dribbled by the defender. As he slid by the defender he was taken down in the box and awarded a penalty kick.
Less than a minute later, Adam Skonicki nearly made it 2-0 as he took a one touch shot from about 15 yards off the cross of Matt Stinson, but Brevard keeper Pauli Jussila made a nice save. Skonicki followed the shot and had another one slip through, but as it rolled to the goal line it was cleared away.
Defender Wylie Rea gave Winthrop the insurance it needed when he headed home a Casajuana corner kick in the 62nd minute.
“I thought we played much better the second half,” said head coach Rich Posipanko. “Brevard is a drastically improved team over last year. It was an opportunity to play a lot of players and continue to get another look at certain players as we approach conference play in a few weeks. There was certainly improvement tonight, but we also have a long way to go before we're considered a good team or ready to contend for a championship.”
The Eagles applied pressure offensively all game, missing several opportunities in addition to some good saves by Jussila.
The Tornado's best opportunity came in the first half when Jaimia Villacis tried to beat Enrique Miranda over his head from about 25 yards out, but Miranda just tipped the ball over the bar to keep the slate clean. It was the fourth shutout of Miranda's career. Winthrop is now 3-2 in its last five season openers.
The Eagles finished the game with a 27-8 shot advantage. Miranda made five saves while his counterpart Jussila made five as well.
Winthrop will turn around and play Mercer on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Eagle Field.
