Box Score Box Score

LEXINGTON, VA— Enrique Miranda's save on a penalty kick with 27 seconds remaining in the match to ensure a 1-0 victory for the Winthrop men's soccer team over Virginia Military Institute, Saturday afternoon in Big South Conference action.

The win ends a losing streak at seven games for the Eagles, who improve to 4-7 on the year and 1-1 in the Big South. VMI falls to 1-10-1 overall and 1-2 in the league.

Leading 1-0 and withholding a lot of offensive pressure, VMI was awarded a penalty kick after Stephen Mallon ripped a shot that was blocked by Grady Trimble, but the referee whistled a penalty for a handball. Miranda stepped up big and made the save as Matt Seinfeld went to the right of Miranda with the shot. Miranda's save bounced out toward the crowd of players running on and was cleared but VMI had one more good chance that was also saved.

The Eagles had not scored in six matches and over 635 minutes until junior Alex Mantchev ended that streak in the 49^th minute of the match.

After a scoreless first half that had several chances offensively for the Eagles and a 12-6 shot advantage, Winthrop finally broke through as Akeem Matthews freed Mantchev all alone toward goal and he placed a ball over the keeper as he slid downward toward the ball. It's Mantchev's fourth goal of the season.

“I feel we were fortunate to win the game,” said Winthrop head coach Rich Posipanko. “VMI is much improved over past years. Richie Rose has done a great job organizing them and molding them into a team. Patchin Field has always been a tough place for us to play, even with some of our best teams. We now look forward to ending an eight game road trip and getting home for five of the last seven regular season games.”

Winthrop's first opportunity to end its scoring drought came in the 15^th minute when Mason Lavallet received a pass from Adam Brundle and blew past a VMI defender headed toward goal inside the 18-yard box. Lavallet neared the keeper and tried to slot a shot by Taylor Feuerstein, but the shot was turned away. In the 20^th minute, Matt Sluga found Mantchev at the top of the box. Mantchev took a quick touch to settle the pass and then hit a shot to the low corner, but Feuerstein dove to make the save.

VMI had a good opportunity in the 22^nd minute on a set piece as a free kick was served into the box and found the head of Brandon Gary from about 10 yards out, but his header slipped just by the post to the left of Miranda.

The Eagles thought they might have finally broke through in the 33^rd minute when Brundle unloaded from about 35-40 yards out and his knuckler just missed the top left corner. Everyone on the bench thought the ball went into the net for a second as it pinged the post that holds the net up behind the goal and then shot across behind into the back of the net.

Before the second half ended, VMI applied pressure and had a good chance as a long cross found David Rochow, who took a quick touch and ripped a shot toward frame. Winthrop's Matt Horn hustled to get in front of the shot and deflect it over the end line for a corner kick.

Barely over five minutes after the Eagles goal, Daniel Di Biagio got up for a header off a corner kick, but the ball hit the top of the crossbar and bounced over. Brundle set up another great chance for the Eagles in the 55^th minute when he won the ball wide with a tackle and headed toward the goal. Brundle then laid a pass off to Matthews running on and his one touch shot from about 12 yards away looked like it was headed toward the lower right corner before VMI's Mallon got his foot in the way and just deflected it wide.

Winthrop improves to 11-0-2 all-time versus the Keydets and has now won the last two games at Patchin Field. Winthrop has now held VMI without a goal in the last three meetings at Patchin.

The shutout was the sixth of Miranda's career as he made seven saves. His counterpart, Feuerstein, also had a solid game as he also finished with seven saves.

VMI finished with the advantage in shots at 22-19, which included 16 of its shots in the second half alone.

Winthrop will return home after eight consecutive matches on the road as it will host UNC Asheville on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.