Box Score
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GREENSBORO, NC—The Winthrop men's soccer team fell 4-1 in penalties to top-seeded Radford as it knocked the Eagles out of the Big South Conference Championship, Friday afternoon at Bryan Park.

Winthrop falls to 13-4-2 on the year while Radford improves to 12-4-3 and advances to Sunday's conference tournament title game to play the winner of the second semifinal match between 2^nd-seeded Coastal Carolina and 3^rd-seeded High Point.

"Congratulations to Radford for advancing," said Winthrop head coach Rich Posipanko. "They maybe wanted the game a bit more than we did tonight. I was pleased with our effort and work rate but I don't think we were as sharp as we have been in the last few games, especially in the final third. It's never a fun way to end a game with PK's but we've been on both ends of it and it's just not a good feeling right now."

After a scoreless first half that provided a couple of good scoring chances for each team, the Highlanders struck first as Stephen Hudgens was on the fortunate end of a deflection off a Dario Redondo shot that landed right at his foot. Hudgens turned and ripped a shot from about 10 yards out straight on goal past Fabian Broich. That goal came just two minutes and 28 seconds into the second half.

Winthrop pushed to tie the match and eventually did in the 70^th minute when Charles Coulson headed home a service from Cody Winter. The ball was delivered to the near post and Coulson whipped a header to the far low corner for his fifth of the season. Coulson had just entered the second half as sub and found the back of the net 39 seconds later.

In the 52^nd minute Radford had a good chance to take a two goal lead as Hudgens got a clean look in the area that Broich was able to turn away and keep the Eagles in the game. Winthrop had a good chance with just over a minute remaining in regulation when a free kick was cleared out to Pietro Bottari, who ripped a shot that bounced through the area and just missed the post wide right.

Both team's nearly ended the game in overtime as the Eagles came close in the first extra period when Jordan Stoddart dribbled to his left to gain some open space and let a shot fly that pinged off the post toward the top left corner and shot wide for a corner kick as it just nipped the leg of a Radford defender.

The second overtime didn't have much action but the game nearly didn't make it to penalties as a long ball was sent over the top of the Winthrop defense. The ball bounced and Evan Szklennik beat the Eagles to the ball and headed it into open space as he ran on. As Szklennik entered the area Broich came out to cut the angle and was able to save the initial shot. The rebound bounced toward goal and Szklennik chased it down and tried to shoot toward the open net but couldn't get around on the shot and it sailed high and over the bar with six seconds left in the second overtime.

Winthrop finished with a 15-12 advantage in shots that included a 5-2 edge in the overtime periods combined. Aito Pouseu Blanco finished with seven saves, including one penalty while Broich finished the game with four saves.