Box Score Box Score
LYNCHBURG, VA— Adam Brundle's golden goal lifted the Winthrop men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Liberty in overtime, Saturday afternoon at Osborne Stadium in Big South Conference men's soccer action.
The Eagles, who had lost two straight, were awarded a penalty kick in the 96
th minute when junior
Marc Segarra was taken down in the box around the penalty spot as the Eagles served a ball from the wing in front of goal. Brundle stepped up and calmly netted the shot for his second goal of the season, both of which have gone for game-winners.
The win improves the Eagles to 5-9 overall and 2-3 in the Big South. It's also Winthrop's first victory at Liberty since the 1992 season (by the same score), ending a seven-game skid. With the loss, Liberty falls to 7-5-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the league.
“Even though I felt we were fortunate to win today, hard work creates a few breaks and a little bit of luck,” said Winthrop head coach
Rich Posipanko. “It's been a long time since we won at Liberty, so we're happy to just get out with some points. Liberty was a very good, well coached team and always very difficult to play against.”
Both teams battled for 90 minutes, but were unable to decide the game in regulation. Liberty finished regulation with 16 shots to Winthrop's nine and had the best opportunity through the first 90 minutes. It came with just under two minutes remaining in the first half when Phillip Aseweh was set up free for a one-on-one with
Enrique Miranda at an angle to his right. Miranda came out at Aseweh and when he slid down, Aseweh slipped a shot over Miranda heading toward the middle of the frame. However, Winthrop didn't give up on the play and junior
Daniel Di Biagio ran toward goal and cleared the ball off the line and out of bounds as he slid toward goal.
Winthrop's best chance of the first half came off a counter attack in the 16th minute. The build-up began with
Nick Kowalski as he dribbled the ball forward with speed and then dished it off to
Akeem Matthews, who then slid a ball to Segarra inside the 18-yard box. Segarra struck the ball first touch, but Liberty keeper Scott Sutairk dove and held on to the shot.
Another fortunate situation for the Eagles came in the 57
th minute when a ball was served in front of the goal with two open Liberty players there from about 10 yards out, but Darren Amoo's one-touch shot sailed over the crossbar.
Miranda finished with five saves to earn his third shutout of the season and seventh of his career. Sutarik also finished with five saves for Liberty.
Winthrop returns home to face Presbyterian College on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
