Box Score Game Stats

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In a match plagued by ten yellow cards total for both teams, the men’s soccer program drew even with the Winthrop Eagles, 1-1, after two scoreless overtimes. The Terriers took a quick lead, scoring in first minute and a half of play and held on to the lead for 76 minutes. The Eagles tied the game in the 77th minute, sending the match into overtime, after a 1-1 regulation score. The two overtimes ended with the same result, 1-1. The Terriers will grab a 1-4-2 record, as they prepare for their first conference match. Winthrop’s draw gives the team a 3-5-1 record on the year.

The Terriers completely controlled the first half of play having 12 shots, compared to Winthrop’s 2 and scoring in the first two minutes of play. Armin Kinigadner placed a high volley cross to Wilson Hood off an awarded corner kick. Hood took the ball on the head and knocked it to Billy Padula, who headed the ball into the Eagles net. Hood and Kinigadner shared the assist, and Padula’s score is the freshman’s first of the season and first of his career. Coach Polson’s program took a 1-0 advantage and held the one goal lead into the second half.

The Eagles switched the momentum in the second half and took control of the field, taking 12 shots to Wofford’s one in the second 45. Winthrop took advantage of a scoring opportunity in the 77th minute, tying the game 1-1. Winthrop’s Matt Stinson took control of a rebounded ball near the top of the 18’ box and skipped the ball past Andrew Drennan to the low right corner. At the end of regulation the match was sent into sudden victory overtime with a 1-1 score.

The Terriers had multiple opportunities to put the game away during overtime, but fell just short on every attempt. The second overtime highlighted a string of attacks that thrilled the crowd, and nearly put the game away.

At the 7:53 mark in the second overtime, Hood had a brilliant opportunity at the 6’, catching the Eagle defense off guard, but pushed the ball wide. Close to a minute later, Hood fired off another attempt from the right wing of the field, sailing the ball just wide right of the goal.

Ryan Hurst kept the pressure going at the 3:55 mark, sneaking past the Eagle defense and having a one-on-one opportunity against Winthrop’s Tom Banfield, having Banfield make a great save to keep the overtime scoreless. Hurst was moved to the forward position for the second overtime to add pace and speed with fresh legs to the offensive attack.

Andrew Eppelsheimer almost ended the game at the 3:32 mark, firing a powerful shot just wide of the left side of the goal. Scott Redding had a shot saved in the last minute and a half of the second overtime, bulleting a shot toward the net after taking control of a ball that bounced toward him near the front of the box.

Winthrop forced the fans at Snyder Field to hold a long breath in the last five seconds of play, having a shot from Matt Horn glance off the high cross bar as time ran out at the end of the second overtime. The match ended after two ten minute overtimes in a 1-1 draw.

The defending SoCon champions begin conference play this Tuesday as they face College of Charleston. Coach Polson commented on the upcoming match, saying “We have gotten through the non-conference games. Now what we are doing is beginning the defense of our 2009 championship. Conference play starts on Tuesday against a very good Charleston team, who has had some great results already.” The game will take place in Charleston at 7:00pm.

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