Skip To Main Content

Winthrop University Athletics

Skip Scoreboard

Scoreboard

Schedule

All Events
Michael Smith, Jayden Mace
Tim Cowie/Tim Cowie Photography

Men's Soccer Takes On Gamecocks In Season Opener Sunday Afternoon

Rock Hill, S.C.— It's been 15 months but the Winthrop men's soccer team is back on the field Feb. 14 when it heads to Columbia, S.C. to take on South Carolina.
 
GAME SNAPSHOT AT SOUTH CAROLINA
WHO: Winthrop (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big South) at South Carolina (3-2-0, 0-0-0 CUSA)
WHEN: Feb. 14, 2021 / 2 p.m.
WHERE: Columbia, S.C. ( Eugene E. Stone III Stadium)
BROADCAST: Gamecock All-Access (free)
LIVE STATS: Sidearm
FOLLOW ON TWITTER: @Winthropsoccer

SEASON OPENERS
Winthrop has won seven of its last nine season openers and are 24-20 all-time. In 2019 the Eagles earned a 2-0 victory at VMI, which was the second straight year the team recorded a shutout in the opener.
 
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS SOUTH CAROLINA
Gamecocks lead the all-time series 7-0, with a 3-0 record at home against the Eagles. The last time these two teams met in a regular season matchup was the season-opener for Winthrop in 2004. The game wasn't originally on the schedule but both team's had cancelations due to the hurricane and scheduled to square off on Eagle Field. The game was scoreless until the 74th minute when Ayo Akinsete headed home a cross from Sebastian Lindholm. Then three and a half minutes the Gamecocks took a 2-0 lead as Eric Szeszycki converted a penalty. Winthrop's Steve Winton made six saves in the game while Brad Guzan made four saves to earn the shutout.
 
A GLANCE AT WINTHROP
Eagles look to replace their top five scorers as they return five starters and 16 total players from the 2019 squad. Head coach Daniel Ridenhour and his staff brought in 10 newcomers, including three transfers. Losing the top five scorers always raises questions marks of who will step up and step into those shoes. Eagles have a number of players that could potentially do so with four forwards listed on the roster and 10 midfielders. Ben Goodman (1g, 3a) and Jonathan Foster (1g, 2a) are the top two returning scorers and played in all 18 games in 2019. Sophomore Daniel Vicaria Barker is another candidate to step up. Defensively the Eagles return Sam Jones in goal (nine games) and the core of its back line in senior's Michael Smith and Andreas Jackson. George Orfanidis also returns as he's played the majority of his 37 career games in the back. In 2019 the Eagles ended a three-year absence from the Big South Conference Tournament as the 4th seed. Winthrop will have to equal or better that finish to ensure a return trip to the tournament as only the Top 4 teams will qualify this season.      
 
BIG SOUTH PRESEASON POLL
The Eagles were voted 7th in the 2020-21 Big South Conference preseason poll. Campbell is the preseason favorite receiving five first-place votes while High Point is second, just six votes behind. Gardner-Webb was voted third followed by Presbyterian College, USC Upstate, Winthrop, Radford and UNC Asheville.
 
WHAT'S AHEAD
Winthrop will have a short break as it opens its home slate on Wednesday, Feb. 17 against Wofford College at 7 p.m..
 
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To keep up with the latest news on the Winthrop men's soccer program follow the Eagles on Twitter (@Winthropsoccer), Instagram (@winthropsoccer) and Facebook (/WinthropUniversitySoccer).
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Now Playing:

Related Stories