Box Score Photo Gallery (www.winthropphotos.com)ROCK HILL, SC— Winthrop opened Big South Conference action with a 2-0 victory over Liberty, Saturday afternoon at Eagle Field.
The victory is the fourth straight for the Eagles as they improve to 7-2 on the year while Liberty falls to 5-2-1. Winthrop will put its winning streak on the line next Saturday, Oct. 4 when it hosts Longwood at 6 p.m.
"It was a solid win over a very good Liberty team," said Winthrop head coach
Rich Posipanko, who captured his 375
th career victory. "It was not our best day with a few injuries and some sickness among the team. It will be great to have an entire week off. I was really pleased with our work rate and how we battled in the second half."
After a scoreless first half, the Eagles struck early in the second as junior
Magnus Thorsson headed home a corner kick by
Pol Sole in the 49
th minute. Thorsson made his run to the far post and steered the header low into the ground as it bounced up and past a Liberty defender as he tried to get in the way. The goal was Thorsson's third in two games and fifth of the season.
The Eagles used their momentum to gain a 2-0 lead as
Sam Schmidt netted his second goal of the season just shy of three minutes later as the goal came off a corner kick. Sole served the ball to the middle of the box as it found its way to the ground and was being kicked at by several players. The ball popped out to Schmidt as he was able to rip a shot quickly that went high into the net from about 10 yards away for a 2-0 lead.
Senior goalkeeper
Guilherme Avelar made five saves to earn the shutout, which was the first time this season Liberty was held scoreless. He made three key saves that secured the shutout and the win. The first came in the 17
th minute when Bay Kurtz was set up with a one-on-one with Avelar, who came out to close the angle and pushed the ball over the end line for a corner with the save. The second was in the 72
nd minute off a free kick as Khalil Karl chose to test Avelar low and to the left corner around the wall as Avelar made the one-handed save. The third came in the 89
th minute and was to the same corner as Kurtz ripped a shot just outside the top of the box toward the lower left corner that Avelar just tipped wide. This is the first time since 1992 the Eagles have shutout Liberty at Eagle Field.
Liberty, who was ranked sixth nationally in scoring, finished with an 11-10 advantage in shots and 8-5 in corner kicks. Scott Sutarik made two saves for the Flames.
