ROCK HILL, SC—The Winthrop men's soccer team will dive back into Big South Conference action this weekend as it travels to Virginia to take on Radford on Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
GAME SNAPSHOT
WHO: Winthrop (3-9, 2-4 Big South) at Radford (5-7, 3-2 Big South)
WHEN: Oct. 20, 2018 / 3 p.m.
WHERE: Radford, VA (Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium)
BROADCAST: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: Sidearm
TWITTER GAME UPDATES: @Winthropsoccer

SERIES HISTORY VERSUS RADFORD
Winthrop and Radford meet for the 38^th time as the all-time series slightly favors the Highlanders 16-17-4. The Highlanders have won the last two meetings by the same score of 2-0. The Eagles had been 4-0-1 in the last five meetings with Radford. The tie did not go in the Eagles favor as they dropped a penalty shootout 4-1 as Radford advanced to the conference title game.
 
THE LAST TIME THESE TWO TEAMS MET
Winthrop hosted the Highlanders on Oct. 21, 2017 at Eagle Field as the Eagles fell 2-0 for a second straight season. Radford's Victor Valls scored both goals in the game as he was set up on both goals by Sivert Daehlie.  
 
A GLANCE AT THE EAGLES
Winthrop has captured two of its last three conference games with both victories coming on the road. In addition to earning the road wins the defense stood tall with shutouts in each. It is the first back-to-back road shutouts against league competition since 2011 when the Eagles earned 1-0 wins at Liberty and Gardner-Webb. Leif Estevez continues to lead the team offensively with 10 points (3g, 4a). Jordan Walshaw, the team's second leading scorer had missed three straight games before returning for 22 minutes against North Carolina on Tuesday night. His return will help bring a boost to the Eagles attack.
 
WINTHROP LEADERS
GOALS: Alfie Rogers, Leif Estevez (3)
ASSISTS: Leif Estevez (4)
POINTS: Leif Estevez (10)
SHOTS: Leif Estevez (19)
MINUTES:  Jordi Mola (1,029)
 
A GLANCE AT THE HIGHLANDERS
Radford is coming off a tough 2-1 loss at sixth-ranked Virginia, which ended a three-game winning streak. The Highlanders had won three straight double-overtime games that included an upset 2-1 victory over 16^th-ranked Charlotte. After starting the season 0-5 the Highlanders have won 5-of-7 games. Radford will be holding its senior day recognitions on Saturday and has been tough at home with a 3-1 mark with three wins in a row at Cupp. Amadou Diop leads the team in scoring with 15 points while Kieran Roberts has 11 points.
 
10^th YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF 2008 BIG SOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
This season the Eagles celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the 2008 Big South Conference Championship team. That team survived some of the most dramatic games in program history on its way to a 15-6-1 record overall as it fell 3-1 at William & Mary in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles captured a 3-2 win at Coastal Carolina on Nov. 5 in foggy conditions as Matt Lacey's laser from 35 yards on a counter found the upper left corner of the goal with 4:16 left in regulation. The Eagles rallied in that game from a 2-1 deficit early in the second half to clinch the regular season title. In the conference tournament (Held at Coastal) the Eagles advanced to the title game in penalties against Liberty. The title game saw the Eagles steal their third title in program history against Coastal. The Chanticleers grabbed a 3-2 lead on a penalty kick in the 87^th minute as the Eagles scored with just 21 seconds on the clock to force overtime and then in the 101^st minute Daniel Revivo buried a service to the back post for the golden goal victory.

BIG SOUTH PRESEASON POLL
Winthrop was picked sixth in the Big South preseason poll as High Point was voted as the favorite with 7-of-9 first-place votes. High Point was followed by Radford, Campbell, Presbyterian College and Gardner-Webb. Tied for 7^th was UNC Asheville and Longwood while USC Upstate was voted 9^th. The top six teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the Big South Conference Tournament.

WHAT'S AHEAD
Winthrop steps away from league play again as it will travel to the coast to take on the College of Charleston on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.