SPARTANBURG, SC— Francesco Tiozzo's netted the golden goal in the 100th minute to lift Winthrop to a 1-0 victory in overtime at Wofford College, Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Big South/SoCON Challenge.

The victory is the third straight for Winthrop as it improves to 3-1 while handing the Terriers their first loss of the season as they fall to 3-1. Winthrop will be back in action next weekend at the UNCW Courtyard Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach Classic starting Friday, Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. against Marist College.

The Eagles were applying pressure offensively as Rasmus Arousell received a pass in the box, cut it back and delivered a cross to Tiozzo right in front of goal at the top of the six and he directed the header into the left side of the frame for his first collegiate goal.

"Another very good team performance in difficult conditions for both teams," said Winthrop head coach Daniel Ridenhour. "Wofford are a very strong team and caused us many problems over the course of the game. Our games with them always seem to be a hard fought. Our team defending again was outstanding and very pleased to get another clean sheet. Tiozzo took his goal very well after some clever play from Arousell and Vinyals."

Arousell had nearly ended the game himself about 50 seconds earlier when he let a shot go near the top of the box straight on from goal. His shot was headed to the lower left corner, but Garrett Closs made a diving fingertip save to his right that just directed the ball around the post.

It looked as though the Eagles were on the board first in the 67th minute when Marco Gatzke chased down a rolling ball at the back post about eight yards out and placed it in the goal. Gatzke looked as though he was trailing the play as the ball shot across the mouth of the goal and by Closs but the Eagles were whistled for offside. Wofford College finished with a 10-7 edge in shots and each finished with four on goal while the Eagles had the advantage on corners 6-2.

Winthrop goalie Hector Fernandez made two saves over the final 20 minutes that helped keep the slate clean in regulation. Fernandez finished with four saves to earn the shutout, the second on the weekend for the Eagles after they blanked Mercer on Friday. Junior Kenneth Perkinson was in goal for the Eagles in the win over Mercer.

"The weekend was a tremendous success for our young group and we have to move on from today and start preparing for next weekend's games," said Ridenhour. "I would like to thank coach Ralph Polson and the Wofford Athletic department for being great host for the SoCon-Big South Challenge."

Gardner-Webb:
F Marvin Mendy, D Alain Delgado
Mercer:
M Max Poore, D Airrion Blackstock, M Trenton Whitely
Wofford:
F Matthew Aurednik, F Connor Donohue, D Kyle Nelson
Winthrop:
F Rasmus Arousell, D Francesco Tiozzo, D Andrew Raad, F Jogvan Jacobsen