ROCK HILL, SC— Following back-to-back losses at home, the Winthrop men's soccer team hits the road where it remains unbeaten on the year at 4-0-1 as it heads north to Lynchburg, VA to take on Liberty Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
Winthrop enters the game at 7-2-1 after two home losses and now has a 1-2 record at Eagle Field this season. However, Winthrop has yet to lose a game away from its home turf as it is 4-0-1 in road games and 6-0-1 overall including neutral site games. Liberty enters the game with 4-5 overall record and 1-3 mark in the league.
The task to remain unbeaten on the road won't be easy as the Eagles face a Liberty team it's only defeated 10 times in 33 games. The all-time series has been dominated by Liberty leading 20-10-3, but recent history has favored the Eagles. In the last 14 meetings, Winthrop is 8-5-2 against Liberty and has won the last two matchups in Lynchburg. Winthrop escaped with a 2-1 overtime victory in the opening round of the 2012 Big South Conference Tournament in the last meeting between the two schools.
The two teams have played some very competitive games in recent years as the last three meetings have gone into overtime as well of six of the last 11 meetings. Only three of the last 11 meetings have been decided by more than one goal.
Prior to its losing streak, Winthrop featured one of the top five offenses in the country but has only managed one goal in each of its last two games resulting in losses. It certainly hasn't come from a lack of chances as Winthrop has 34 shots (12 on goal) in the two losses. As of games through Oct. 10, Winthrop is ranked sixth nationally in scoring at 2.50 per game.
Freshman
Max Hasenstab had his scoring streak snapped at five games in the loss to Campbell, but continues to lead the way offensively for the Eagles. The first-year forward has seven goals and five assists and is ranked among the national scoring leaders.
The Eagles have been shorthanded lately as the team battles through injuries, but the offense could get some help this weekend as senior
Achille Obougou may return. He is currently second on the team in scoring with four goals and two assists. Obougou suffered an injury during the College of Charleston game and had to sit out vs. Campbell.
Senior
Mason Lavallet netted his second goal of the season against Campbell and will likely enjoy his return to Lynchburg as he was responsible for the golden goal that sent the Eagles to the Big South semifinals. He has two goals and an assist on the year.
Winthrop has yet to give up more than two goals to an opponent this season, but has done so in the last two games despite good play from junior goalkeeper
Guilherme Avelar. The first-year goalie has a 1.03 goals against average and a .811 save percentage.
Liberty has also lost two straight heading into the matchup with the Eagles and coming off a 2-0 non-conference loss at Davidson. It was just the second time the Flames had been shutout this season. Liberty will welcome a home match as it has been on the road for three straight and six of its last seven games. So far this year the Flames are 1-1 at home.
Sophomore Sachem Wilson leads the scoring for the Flames with four goals and two assists while redshirt senior Kyle Breitmeyer has two goals on the year. Breitmeyer scored the only goal in a league win at UNC Asheville on Sept. 28.
The Flames have used three goalies on the year despite the experience junior Scott Sutarik has. Sutarik has the most games played with five and is 3-2 on the year with a 1.17 goals against average and three shutouts. He did not play in the team's last game at Davidson and left the game at High Point with just under 22 minutes remaining. Senior Sam Chappell is 1-1 on the year in three games with a 1.34 goals against average while redshirt Jeremy Lee is 0-2 on the year with a 2.0 goals against average and played all 90 minutes at Davidson.
