Box Score
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LYNCHBURG, VA—Mason Lavallet netted the golden goal in the 95^th minute to lift sixth-seeded Winthrop to a 2-1 victory over third-seeded Liberty, Tuesday evening in the first round of the 2012 Big South Conference Championship.

Senior Josh Mort played a ball into the box at the back post as junior Achille Obougou was there to head the ball back across as Lavallet made his run near post and was able to slide in front of Liberty keeper Scott Sutarik and redirect the shot off the near post and into the net. It was Lavallet's sixth goal of the season and his second career game-winner.

“It was a good game and could have gone either way,” said head coach Rich Posipanko. “I was pleased with our work rate and intensity tonight. Feel very fortunate to win as both teams played well.”

Liberty (8-7-3), the defending Big South Champions, scored a goal in the 74^th minute to take the lead. The Flames had a fortunate bounce off the wall on the initial free kick from Uriah Bentick. The shot hit the wall and deflected the opposite way in which Enrique Miranda was moving across the goal mouth, but Miranda was able to reach back and make the save. However, Greg White was crashing the net and finished the rebound for the goal.

Winthrop (10-8-1) received a fortunate bounce of its own late in the game as it continuously applied pressure offensively looking for the equalizer. After Sutarik had collected a through ball, he tried to drop kick the ball up field but instead it went into the back of a Liberty player and bounced to the feet of senior Marc Segarra. Segarra, who had just subbed into the match in the 79^th minute, took a touch and then chipped the ball over the head of Sutarik from the top of the box to tie the game in the 83^rd minute.

The Eagles had lost their last two first round tournament games (both to Gardner-Webb) and reach 10 wins on the year for the first time since 2009. This is also the sixth time in the last eight conference tournaments in which Winthrop and Liberty have squared off.

Miranda finished with three saves in the match, including a diving save in the 79^th minute as Liberty's Johnny Torres had a rip from just outside the box to Miranda's left. Sutarik finished with three saves as well as the Eagles finished with a 13-10 edge in shots.

The Eagles played their fifth overtime game of the year and are now 4-0-1 in extra time this season.

Winthrop will now face second-seeded Radford on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. as the Final Four of the tournament will be held in Greensboro, NC at Bryan Park.