Box Score Box Score

ROCK HILL, SC— The Winthrop men's soccer team dropped its first home game of the year in a 2-0 defeat by UNC Asheville, Wednesday evening in Big South Conference action.

It was the first game at home in the last 38 days, but the Eagles continued to struggle offensively as they fall to 4-8 overall and 1-2 in the Big South. UNC Asheville improved to 3-6-3 and 2-1-1 in the league.

“Disappointed with the loss,” said Winthrop head coach Rich Posipanko. “I thought we had most of the possession. We made two drastic mistakes that cost us goals and we can't finish the opportunities we get. Asheville is a senior oriented team that is very well coached and organized defensively.”

Rob May's goal in the 70^th minute proved to be the key goal of the match as the Eagles offense pressed to get the tying goal. The Bulldogs served a ball into the box to the back post and the ball was cleared on header by a Winthrop defender toward the top of the box. May controlled the clearance and quickly ripped a shot to the lower right corner for his first of the season.

It was a game of missed opportunities for the Eagles that fired 14 shots, but only forcing Lassi Hurskainen to make three saves for his third shutout of the season. Enrique Miranda made four saves for Winthrop.

The second half chances for the Eagles were well formed, but the completion of the chances missed frame several times.

The only goal of the first half came in the 21^st minute when Kenneth Lingerfelt took it upon himself to create a scoring chance. Lingerfelt received a clearance at midfield and then dribbled by two Winthrop defenders and headed toward goal and ripped a shot from 35 yards out before he reached another Winthrop defender. The shot whizzed by the shoulder of Daniel Di Biagio and headed toward the top corner as Miranda got a hand on it trying to make the save but the ball bounced into the side netting.

The first half didn't go by without scoring chances for the Eagles as they had a couple of very solid opportunities. The first came with just over midway through the half when Winthrop was awarded a free kick just outside the corner of the 18-yard box to the right of UNC Asheville goalie Hurskainen. Alex Isern stepped up to take the free kick and he chose to shoot the ball as his attempt headed toward the top right corner, but Hurskainen got to the ball in time and tipped it wide.

In the 31^st minute, Nick Kowalksi set up Akeem Matthews behind the Bulldog defense with a nice pass and Matthews was headed toward goal with trailing teammates, but his last touch was too much and Hurskainen cleared the ball away as he came out. Alex Mantchev was waiting on a drop pass about eight yards out from goal.

Winthrop got forward a lot in the first half and with just under five and a half minutes left Mantchev had a chance, but couldn't pull the trigger for a solid shot. Matthews laid a ball back across the mouth of goal and found Adam Brundle at the penalty spot, who then back flicked the ball on the ground toward Mantchev. The 6-3 junior couldn't quite get a full shot off and hit a soft slicing shot that went wide of the post to the lower right.

Winthrop will remain at home as it hosts Campbell on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. UNC Asheville will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 15 when it hosts nationally-ranked Coastal Carolina.