The Winthrop men’s soccer team recorded two losses last week, losing 2-1 versus Longwood and 1-0 against Gardner-Webb.
The matches were Winthrop’s last home games of the season, and the losses leave the Eagles still looking for their first victory with just one game remaining on their schedule.
The Eagles entered their game against Longwood on March 29, having been outscored by opponents 23-5 over the course of the short season and owning an 0-6 record. Longwood also entered the contest winless in conference play with just a 1-5-1 record overall.
The Lancers wasted no time in scoring a goal last Monday, netting a shot shortly after the 32nd minute had passed to take a 1-0 lead.
Longwood maintained that lead, holding Winthrop to just three shots in the first half. However, the Eagles battled back late in the second half, with freshman Grayson Woodard scoring at the 87-minute mark.
Woodard’s goal marked his third on the season (a team-high) and tied the game with just minutes left on the clock. Less than two minutes later, the Lancers scored another goal of their own to defeat the Eagles in heartbreaking fashion.
Winthrop returned to the pitch two days later to take on Gardner-Webb on March 31. Before Wednesday’s match, Winthrop honored its four seniors — midfielder Conor Maher and defenders George Orfanidis, Michael Smith and Andreas Jackson.
The Eagles were once again faced with an early deficit when their opponent scored just 19 minutes into the contest on the very first shot they took.
Winthrop stood strong and held the visitors to just one more shot throughout the remainder of the first half. But the home team was unable to even the score with any of their five first-half shot attempts.
During the second half, the Eagles outshot the Runnin’ Bulldogs 11-4. Over the course of the entire game, Winthrop took 16 shots (four shots on goal) to Gardner-Webb’s six (two shots on goal), yet the Eagles were unable to find the back of the net.
Winthrop travels to Clinton, SC to take on Presbyterian in its last game of the season. The game is scheduled to take place on April 8 at 4 p.m.
The Blue Hose are 4-4-1 on the season (2-4-1 against Big South opponents) and have won their previous two games. Winthrop has not beaten Presbyterian since Oct. 21, 2015.
Regardless of the outcome of Thursday’s contest, this will be Winthrop’s fifth-straight season with a losing record.
