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MACON, GA—Achille Obougou scored two goals to lead the Winthrop men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Mercer, Friday night in the team's first game of the Mercer Classic.
The Eagles remain unbeaten on the year as they improve to 3-0-1 while Mercer falls to 0-4.
"It was a very physical game," said Winthrop head coach
Rich Posipanko. "Because they play so direct they are a very tough team to defend against. We're obviously happy to get another road win. If you count the two preseason games, that's six straight on the road to star the year. After Sunday we'll be looking forward to getting home and playing at Eagle Field."
With the match tied at 1-1 midway through the second half, Obougou found the net for the second time on the evening as he blasted the ball past the keeper off a cross from
Patrick Barnes in the 64
th minute. Obougou received the cross off his chest setting up a left-footed volley from about eight yards out that he ripped into the back of the net.
Over the next nine minutes, Mercer applied pressure offensively and had three corner kicks and even tested
Guilherme Avelar in goal with a head by Ian Antley, but Avelar and the defense was up to the task. Avelar finished with a season-high eight saves. The Eagles have allowed three goals in four games as Avelar now sports a 0.71 goals against average.
Max Hasenstab and Obougou tried to get Winthrop on the board quickly as they both recorded back-to-back shots that were blocked just 1:18 and 1:22 into the match. Just moments after that the Eagles found themselves in front with a goal off a set piece.
Magnus Thorsson delivered the corner to the head of
Mason Lavallet, who flicked the ball on and was finished by Obougou at the 1:54 mark.
Mercer didn't waste much time tying the match in the second half Ehjayson Henry scored his third of the season with a header off a service by Brady O'Brien at the 46:28 mark. Antley also assisted on the play.
Avelar's counterpart Greg Ranjitsingh suffered the loss as he allowed two goals on while facing 15 shots and making four saves.
The four-game unbeaten streak is the best streak to start a season since 2003 when the team opened up with three straight wins and earned a 1-1 tie in its fourth match of the year and didn't suffer a loss until the eighth game of the year.
The Eagles will remain in Macon as it has a day between games when they wrap-up the weekend with a 1 p.m. contest against Stetson on Sunday, Sept. 15.
