Box Score Box Score

ROCK HILL, SC—Andres Pullin's goal in the 57^th minute proved to be the game-winner as Winthrop held on for a 2-1 victory over Presbyterian College, Wednesday evening in Big South Conference men's I soccer action.
The win is the second straight for Winthrop, which improves to 6-9 overall and evens its record at 3-3 in the conference. Presbyterian College falls to 3-12 on the year and 3-4 in the Big South.
Pullin took a ball off his chest and settled it as he started to head to goal from the corner of the 18-yard box to the left of Presbyterian College keeper Ethan Watson. Pullin took a couple of dribbles and then ripped a right-footed shot from about 20 yards to the lower left corner for his first season of the season.
“I can see we're getting better in all aspects but the frustrating part is we have an opportunity to put away a game and we don't,” said Winthrop head coach Rich Posipanko. “We're still making defensive mistakes that allow teams back in the game at the end. Certainly we've improved over the last two weeks.”
Winthrop's first half goal came in the 23^rd minute as Tomas Brennan netted his first goal of the season. The Eagles earned a throw-in to the right of Watson. Josh Mort's throw went all the way in front of the net as Josh Goldstein positioned himself in front of a defender and played a touch to Brennan with his chest. Brennan settled the ball and then placed a shot on the ground into the lower right corner from just inside the 18-yard box.
In the 16^th minute, Winthrop had a very good chance to get on the scoreboard when Brennan set-up Marc Segarra on a breakaway, but Segarra's touch was too strong. As Segarra closed in on the ball, Watson had closed the gap and Segarra didn't have much room when he got his shot off and the save was made.
The Blue Hose nearly tied the match in the 28^th minute as Matthew Palma was set up in from about eight yards out of goal straight on, but his shot hit the post and bounced right into the arms of Eagle goalie Enrique Miranda.
Winthrop had a couple of good chances to push the lead to three or four goals in the second half, but couldn't finish the opportunities. Segarra was set up in front by Goldstein on a nice service in the 59^th minute, but Segarra's shot from six yards away missed the entire frame headed toward the top left corner.
Presbyterian College took advantage of Winthrop's inability to stretch its lead and got back in the game with a goal in the 80^th minute from Jonny Mercardo. The ball was sent into the box and Miranda tried to retrieve it in the air but was late and it was cleared away on a header by Daniel Di Biagio. Ignacio Monchetti settled the clearance and ripped a shot toward the open net, but it was a tad off target and right to Mercardo who redirected the shot with some pace and into the lower right corner.
The Eagles finished with a 16-12 advantage in shots while Miranda finished with four saves. Watson finished with five saves for the Blue Hose.
Winthrop will remain at home as it welcomes nationally ranked Coastal Carolina for a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday, Oct. 29.