Sept. 12, 2008

Box Score

Rock Hill, S.C. - The USC Upstate men's soccer team hung tough with solid defense for three-quarters of the game, but Winthrop scored two goals in a seven-minute span midway through the second half to turn a 1-0 battle into a 3-0 lead and went on for the 3-0 victory in the nightcap of the Wingate Inn Classic Friday night.

Upstate fell to 1-2-0 on the year with the loss, while Winthrop improved to 4-1-0 on the year. Upstate will battle former Atlantic Sun Conference foe Gardner-Webb Sunday at noon in the Spartans' final game of the tournament hosted by Winthrop.

Winthrop had a couple of chances to blow the game open in the first half. Winthrop was awarded a penalty kick and Daniel Revivo converted the free try to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute. The Eagles were awarded another penalty kick after a hand ball was called on Upstate in the box. However, Upstate goalkeeper Patrick Regna made a tremendous save on the kick to keep the Spartans within a goal at halftime.

The score remained a 1-0 battle until the Upstate defense finally wore down midway through the second half. Winthrop's Miguel Casajuana played a through ball to Michael Luk who finished the goal to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead in the 74th minute. Winthrop added to the lead seven minutes later when Josh Goldstein was the recipient of two one-touch passes from Revivo and Luk, putting the shot away into the empty net as the Eagles opened a commanding 3-0 lead.

Regna made nine saves on the night to lead Upstate as Winthrop pressured throughout the game. Winthrop keeper Patrick Mitrovich recorded the shutout for the Eagles. Luk and Revivo each finished the game with a goal and an assist to lead the Winthrop attack.

In the first game of the day, Appalachian State scored late in the second overtime period to earn a thrilling 1-0 victory over Gardner-Webb. Winthrop and Appalachian State will meet for the tournament title Sunday.