SPARTANBURG, SC— A strong defensive effort helped Winthrop men's soccer to a 2-0 win over Mercer, Friday evening at the Big South/SoCON Challenge on the campus of Wofford College.
The Eagles win their second straight and are now 2-1 on the year while Mercer drops its first game of the season and is also 2-1. Winthrop will look for three straight on Sunday, Sept. 4 when it takes on Wofford College at 3:30 p.m.
"I think from start to finish that is the most complete game we have played," said Winthrop head coach
Daniel Ridenhour. "We have had moments in every other game but today we were mentally engaged for 90 minutes. Mercer just went on the road and beat South Carolina so that shows their quality. Our opponent today will cause many teams problems with their pace and will to work."
Senior
James Skonicki put the Eagles in front less than a minute into the second half with his first goal of the season. Skonicki's first shot attempt was saved by Jeremy Booth, but he hammered the rebound into the goal for the 1-0 lead.
Winthrop goalie
Kenneth Perkinson kept the Eagles in front 1-0 in the 52
nd minute with Mercer's best chance of the game to that point. Will Bagrou collected the ball and turned on a Winthrop defender with a clear path to goal and fired a shot from Perkinson's right but he stood his ground and turned the shot away. Perkins finished the game with five saves.
Minutes later
Rasmus Arousell tried to give the Eagles a two-goal lead as he had a free look from 25 yards out straight on from goal Booth made the diving save to his right and the rebound was cleared away.
As the Bears tried to find the equalizer, the Eagles caught them pushing forward as
Jogvan Jacobsen's through ball set up redshirt freshman
Brandon Anselmo with a one-on-one with Booth and he calmly placed the ball into the lower right corner as he crossed into the box for his first collegiate goal.
"Overall, pleased with our defensive shape and ability to keep the ball," added Ridenhour. "Our final pass and movement was lacking at times, but we found two very good goals. A special mention to both goals scorers, Skonicki and Anselmo really deserved their goals and happy for them. Our focus now shifts to Wofford and trying to get our legs back for Sunday.'