Box Score www.winthropphotos.comROCK HILL, SC-- A goal by Renato Punyed in the 109
th minute ended the Winthrop men's soccer unbeaten streak at eight games as it fell 3-2 to High Point, Saturday evening in Big South Conference action.
The Eagles fall to 10-3-1 on the year and 4-1-1 in the Big South while High Point improved to 7-6-1 overall and 4-1 in the league.
"I thought it was a good game that could've gone either way," said Winthrop head coach
Rich Posipanko. "I was pleased with our effort tonight but we made two costly mistakes and paid for it. Credit High Point as they are always tough to play against."
Punyed received a pass from Mamadee Nyepon and then took a touch toward the middle of the field before firing a shot straight on from goal that beat
Guilherme Avelar to the lower left corner of the frame.
Winthrop trailed 2-1 in the 64
th minute when Nyepon scored his second goal of the match off a service from Ebe Kudolo. He received a pass from Kudolo at the top of the 18, turned immediately and beat Avelar to the lower right corner.
However the lead was short-lived as
Pol Sole equalized in the 69
th minute when he received a cross from Sam Schimdt on the ground and his first touch shot from the spot beat Kody Palmer to the lower left corner as it hit the post and found the back of the net.
Winthrop took a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute when
Max Hasenstab beat Palmer low into the left corner after defense of mistake by the Panthers. Hasenstab, along with a couple of Panthers' defenders, ran toward the ball and fought for it at the top of the 18 as the ball popped out toward goal. Hasenstab ran right to the ball and quickly fired a shot past Palmer in the lower left corner.
High Point tied the match just before the half as Nyepon headed home an Avery Ryan cross in the 44
th minute.
Winthrop finished with a 17-16 advantage in shots and 8-6 in corner kicks. Avelar finished with seven saves while Palmer stopped three shots.
The Panthers have now won the last four meetings in Rock Hill, but the Eagles lead the all-time series 15-5-1.
Winthrop will be back in action on Wednesday, October 29 when they to travel to Conway South Carolina to take on 20th-ranked coastal Carolina at 6 p.m.
