Box Score
ROCK HILL, SC—It wasn't a start that head coach Rich Posipanko was pleased with, but the Winthrop men's soccer team opened the season with a 2-0 victory over Brevard College, Friday evening at Eagle Field.
“For being the first game after a long preseason, I was disappointed in our intensity and work rate,” said Posipanko, who is coaching his 23rd season with the Eagles. “We weren't playing together as a team in the final third. I thought we had too much individual play. At the end of the day, it's the first game of the year so we'll take the win. A lot of credit to Brevard. They played hard and many times during the game outworked us.”
The Eagles had total control of the match from the get go and looked solid and aggressive in the first five minutes, but the rest of the game they struggled in the offensive third.
Winthrop (1-0) did finally get on the scoreboard with a goal in 20th minute by freshman Mpumelelo Matutu, for his first collegiate goal. Winthrop played the ball into the box and a Tornados' defender cleared the ball out straight away on goal right to Matutu, who settled it. Matutu took a touch to his left and ripped a shot into the lower left corner from just outside the 18-yard box for the lead.
During the next 66 minutes the Eagles had only a couple of good chances. The best chance came with just under 19 minutes remaining as freshman Akeem Matthews broke free toward goal. Matthews settled a ball that was cleared to midfield, made one move and was by the last defender and heading toward goal. As the defenders and goalkeeper closed in on Matthews he got a shot off but it was saved and the rebound was knocked away.
Junior Alex Mantchev came on as a substitute in the 74th minute and in the 87th minute he put the game out of reach scoring from just inside the penalty marker straight away from goal. Junior Matt Sluga worked his way wide with the ball, cut back and crossed the ball toward junior Alex Isern, who flicked the ball on to Mantchev. The 6-3 forward from Sofia, Bulgaria took a quick touch and quickly placed the ball to the lower left corner for his first goal at the NCAA level.
Winthrop finished the game with a 14-12 edge in shots and junior Enrique Miranda made three saves to earn his fifth career shutout. Tornados keeper Pauli Jussila made four saves.
The Eagles will be back in action on Thursday, Sept. 1 when they host Georgia Southern at 7 p.m. in the Big South/Southern Shootout. Wofford College will face Gardner-Webb in the first game at 4:30 p.m.
