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ROCK HILL, SC— The 2014 home opener for the Winthrop men's soccer team wasn't a kind one as it fell 3-0 to 20
th-ranked Charlotte, Saturday evening at Eagle Field.
The loss drops the Eagles to 3-2 on the year and is the first home opening loss since 2005 when they fell 3-0 to Gardner-Webb. The victory improves Charlotte to 3-1 on the year.
"I was pleased with our work rate today," said head coach
Rich Posipanko, coaching in his 499
th game at Winthrop. "Charlotte took advantage of their opportunities while we just couldn't find a goal on the other end. I also felt we made way too many mistakes defensively and will look to address that in the coming week."
Charlotte took full advantage of its quality opportunities in the first half building a 2-0 lead. For their first goal, the 49ers worked the ball through the midfield with quick passes as Dominic Bonilla dribbled in space down the right side, beat a defender putting himself free in the box as he delivered a pass on the ground toward the front of the net. Zhuvonte Wilson, who had subbed in just under three minutes prior, made the run into the box and his one touch shot at the top of the six beat
Guilherme Avelar low for the goal in the 27
th minute.
That goal shifted the momentum in favor of the 49ers as they began to create more chances and Winthrop couldn't weather the storm until halftime as Charlotte scored in the 43
rd minute for the two goal lead at the break.
Tyler Parker scored his second goal of the season off a nice service from Matej Dekovic. The play began slowly in the back as Dekovic collected the ball wide and then took a touch before delivering a cross from out wide about 40 yards up the field. Parker made a run to the far post and was left wide open as his first time volley from about 10 yards out beat Avelar to the top left corner.
Winthrop best chance of the first half came in the 21
st minute off a set piece.
Magnus Thorsson played the free kick to
Pol Sole in the 18-yard box as he spun a defender, dribbled toward frame and struck a low shot that Austin Pack was able to fall on quickly for the save.
The 49ers took a 3-0 lead in the 56
th minute as Monbo Bokar was set up in open space to goal as he held off a Winthrop defender on his shoulder and placed a shot off the left post after entering the box.
In the 61
st and 62
nd minute, freshman
Jordan Stoddart had a couple of good opportunities to get the Eagles on the scoreboard. The first came off a free kick as his header at the back post was just wide of the right corner as the ball hit the side netting. A minute later he was set up straight on goal around the penalty spot but his shot was turned away by Pack.
Avelar made three saves as he suffered the loss in goal and is now 1-1 on the year. Pack finished with five saves to earn the shutout for Charlotte.
Winthrop will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 17 when it hosts USC Upstate at 6 p.m.
