ROCK HILL, SC—The Big South Conference slate has finally arrived as Winthrop men's soccer will host Presbyterian College Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in the league opener for both teams.
 
GAME SNAPSHOT
WHO: Winthrop (2-4-1) vs. Presbyterian College (2-4-1)
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Rock Hill, SC (Eagle Field)
BROADCAST: Big South Network (Click Here)
LIVE STATS: Statbroadcast (Click Here)
TWITTER: @WUGameDay / @Winthropsoccer / @WUEagles
TICKETS:  www.winthropeagles.com (under ticket drop down menu)
 
WINTHROP IN BIG SOUTH OPENERS
Through the years the Eagles have enjoyed some success in their Big South Openers and have won two of the last three. This will be the first time since 2013 the Eagles are not facing Liberty in their opener. It is just the second time the Eagles have faced the Blue Hose in a league opener. That matchup took place in 2009 as the Eagles won 3-1 at home. Winthrop is 20-12-1 all-time in league openers and are 6-3-1 in the last 10 openers on their home turf.        

SERIES HISTORY VERSUS PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
This marks the 19^th meeting all-time with the Blue Hose as the Eagles are 17-1 all-time in the series. The lone victory for PC came last season in Clinton as the Eagles fell 3-1. Winthrop is 9-0 against the Blue Hose on Eagle Field.        
  
A GLANCE AT WINTHROP
Winthrop suffered another tough loss this past week in a 2-1 loss to Georgia Southern, who scored two goals in the final 12 minutes to steal the win. It was the second straight loss and first at home for the Eagles. The Eagles are averaging 1.71 goals per game as the offense is paced by seniors Max Hasenstab (6g, 2a) and Rasmus Arousell (3 goals). Kenneth Perkinson has manned the net every second this season and holds a 1.22 goals against average with a save percentage of .816.      

A GLANCE AT PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
The Blue Hose have an identical record as the Eagles and have lost two straight as well with a two-goal loss at Georgia State and a 2-1 loss at home vs. 8^th-ranked Furman. The two victories this season have come against USC Upstate (3-1) and at UNC Greensboro (1-0). PC is averaging a goal per game while allowing 1.43 per game. Sergio Pinto leads the team with four points (2 goals) while Adrian Edo Martin is second with three points (1 goal, 1 assist).    
 
HASENSTAB TABBED BIG SOUTH ATTACKING PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR A SECOND TIME
Max Hasenstab was named the Big South Attacking Player of the Week for a second time this season after he helped the team to a 1-1 record the week before with two goals and two assists. He earned his first one of the season with his hat trick in the win over Wofford, Hasenstab was named the Big South Attacking Player of the Week. It was his third career hat trick and the third time in his career to capture the honor.     
 
HASENSTAB ONE OF NATION'S TOP SCORING THREATS
Redshirt senior Max Hasenstab has had a decorated career and enters the 2017 season among some of the NCAA Division I active scoring leaders. Hasenstab entered the season third among active players with 1.67 points per game and has moved to 2nd at 1.71 per game. He remains ahead of Maryland's Gordon Wild for the most goals for an active player with 40. He began the year 3rd in goals per game at .71 and has increased that to .73 (3rd). Through six games he's 11^th nationally in goals per game and 10^th in points per game. He is a three-time All-Big South selection and the 2015 Big South Conference Tournament MVP. He has 94 career points, which ranks 1st among active players and is 7th all-time in Winthrop history.
  
WHAT'S AHEAD
Winthrop will jump back out of Big South play for a non-conference matchup with 7^th-ranked North Carolina on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. The game will be played at UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, NC as the Tar Heels home field is under renovation.  
 
BIG SOUTH PRESEASON POLL
Winthrop was picked fifth in the Big South Preseason Poll as it was tied with Campbell with 45 votes. The Eagles captured their final two league games of 2016, but did not advance to the conference tournament. Winthrop and Campbell were just seven votes behind Longwood in 4^th. The Highlanders received 7-of-9 first-place votes while High Point was picked second and Liberty third.

THE REST OF THE BIG SOUTH SLATE FOR SEPTEMBER 23

9.23.17 - 6:00pm High Point 2-3 UNC Asheville H 1-6 Asheville, N.C.

9.23.17 - 7 p.m. George Mason Longwood University H 0-5 Farmville, Va.

9.23.17 - 7 pm Radford 4-2 Campbell University H 4-3 Buies Creek, N.C

9.23.17 - 7:00pm Gardner-Webb University 2-2 Furman H Greenville, S.C

9.23.17 - 7:00pm Wofford Liberty University H 3-2 Lynchburg, Va.