Men’s Soccer Drops Fourth Straight With 3-1 Loss To #6 Coastal Carolina Wednesday Evening
ROCK HILL, SC— Two second half goals led sixth-ranked Coastal Carolina to a 3-1 victory as Winthrop dropped its fourth straight game, Wednesday evening in Big South Conference men’s soccer action.
Agust Arnarson’s goal in the 74th minute proved to be the game-winner as he received a pass with his back to goal just inside the 18-yard box, turned and then ripped a shot to the lower right corner. The goal gave Coastal Carolina its 10th win on the year as it improves to 10-2 and a perfect 5-0 in the Big South. With the loss, the Eagles fall to 7-4-1 overall and 1-3 in the league.
Just minutes following the go-ahead goal, Jakub Stourac scored an insurance goal as he was set free running down the left side of the field, cut back across to the middle of the field and let one fly from just outside the box to the lower left corner of the goal.
It was Winthrop that struck first as junior Achille Obougou netted his fifth goal of the season in the 19th minute. The Eagles won the ball in the midfield and Obougou received a pass with his back to goal. He flicked the ball up in the air trying to slip past Uchenna Uzo and into the box. Uzo headed the ball up but then it took a fortunate bounce as Obougou ran on and ripped the shot into the lower left corner of the goal. It was the first time since the South Carolina contest (seven games) in which Coastal Carolina trailed an opponent.
Coastal Carolina evened it up in the 32nd minute when Ricky Garbanzo scored his sixth on the season. Pedro Ribeiro served the ball to the near post on the ground and as Garbanzo ran on and redirected the ball over the head of Guilherme Avelar and into the top part of the net.
In the 40th minute the Chanticleers nearly took a 2-1 lead as Matt Risher was set free behind the Eagles defense. Avelar left the 18-yard box and closed down the angle on Risher and made a save with his head when Risher tried to chip the ball over his head.
The Eagles got away with a couple chances defensively as Coastal Carolina had two free headers that sailed over the crossbar.
Avelar’s biggest save in the first half came in the 15th minute as Garbanzo came free into the box on a cross and his header was saved off the line with a diving save.
Avelar took a shot on a free kick into the box and was forced to leave the game at the half as Fabian Broich made his collegiate debut and made seven saves but suffered the loss in goal. Devin Cook finished with three saves for the Chanticleers.
Coastal Carolina finished with a 25-13 advantage in shots and a 9-0 edge in corner kicks. It was also the Chanticleers 24th straight regular season victory against a Big South opponent.
Winthrop’s tough stretch continues as it heads to High Point, NC on Saturday, Oct. 19 to take on the Panthers at 5 p.m. Coastal Carolina will be back in action this weekend when it hosts Radford on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m.
