ROCK HILL, SC—The Winthrop men's soccer team hosts Brevard College Friday evening in its 2015 season opener at Eagle Field at 7 p.m.
The game will be the final season opener for head coach
Rich Posipanko, who announced this will be his final season. In 26 seasons with the Eagles a Posipanko led team has a record of 19-7 in season openers and 10-2 when opening the season at home.
It will mark the 12
th time that Winthrop and the Tornadoes have met as the Eagles are 12-0 in the all-time series.
There is a buzz of excitement surrounding the squad this season as it is coming off a 13-4-2 season and final RPI of 39 (program record) with nine starters returning and a talented core of newcomers.
In 2014 the Eagles were third nationally in scoring and are led by returning forward
Max Hasenstab. The junior led the team in goals (12) and scoring (1.93 ppg) despite missing five games. Also returning are forwards
Charles Coulson (5g) and
Jordan Stoddart (4g, 1a). Senior
Magnus Thorsson finished third on the team in scoring from his defensive midfield position with six goals and two assists.
Not only will the team have depth up front but defensively the Eagles have a lot of experience on the back line. Seniors
Jordi Lluch and
Kyle Kennedy are three-year starters and have anchored a solid defense throughout their careers.
Minding the net will be senior
Fabian Broich as he is coming off a 5-1 record with two shutouts in nine games played in 2014 with a 0.64 goals against average.
Winthrop has won five straight season openers with the last loss coming on the road in 2009 at North Carolina State, 3-1. The Eagles have not lost a season opener at home since 2004 in a 3-0 loss to South Carolina. All-time the Eagles are 24-15-1 in home openers, having won six of the last seven.
This is considered an exhibition match for the Tornadoes, who are coming off a 1-1 draw at Gardner-Webb on Tuesday.
