#5 Longwood Defeats #4 Winthrop, 4-0, To Reach Semifinals
By Longwood Athletics
ROCK HILL, S.C. - In a season loaded thrilling wins and big numbers, Longwood men's soccer added another chapter on Wednesday night in the first round of the Big South Championship.
Junior striker Brando Bedolla factored in all four Lancer goals as the visitor scored early and often, knocking off the home side and No. 4 seed Winthrop, 4-0. Thanks to its sixth road win of the season, Longwood (9-7-1) advances to the Big South semifinals for the second time in three seasons under head coach Paul Gilbert.
Bedolla, who totaled five points on two goals and an assist in the regular season meeting, picked up a goal via penalty kick and assisted on the other three Lancer goals. Freshman Vicent Martinez scored the game-winner for the second time in as many trips to Winthrop (6-9-3), while sophomore Youssef Shafei and freshman Mamdouh Habashy each added goals as well.
With his three assists, Bedolla pushed his season total to 16, which leads the country. It also ranks as the ninth most in Big South history and the most in 16 years.
As it did in the first match between the teams in Rock Hill, the Lancers scored two goals in the opening 45 minutes to jump out to a lead it would not relinquish. Longwood quickly went defense to offense, catching Winthrop on the counter. Senior Ezrah Serralde and Bedolla combined in the midfield with the latter setting Martinez free down the right side. The Lancer rookie finished with a low liner underneath Winthrop goalkeeper Kevin Christensen.
Shafei doubled the lead in the 30th minute with a rebound goal. On the play, Bedolla has a free kick from just outside the penalty area, and Christensen made a diving save to his right. Shafei won the race to the ball and kissed it off the post and in to extend the margin to 2-0.
The Lancers' momentum picked up steam in the second half when Winthrop's Sam Crolla was handed a second yellow card in the 70th minute. Just three minutes later, Bedolla was clipped by a charging Christensen to earn a Longwood penalty. He converted the spot kick to push the lead to 3-0.
With Winthrop throwing players forward and down two players after a second red card, Longwood scored again on the counterattack. Bedolla flipped a header to set Habashy free, and the Longwood freshman scored on a shot to the left post in the 83rd minute. It was his first career tally.
It was a historic night for multiple reasons. With its four goals, the Lancers established a new Division I program mark for goals in a season (37). It was the program's ninth win, which is the Division I era, and sixth victory on the road, which ranks second in school history. Longwood is one of only six programs nationally with six or more road wins this season. It marks the fourth time Longwood advanced to the Big South semifinals in its eight trips to the league tournament.
Scoring Summary
14' | Longwood – Vicent Martinez (Brando Bedolla / Ezrah Serralde)
30' | Longwood – Youssef Shafei (Bedolla)
74' | Longwood – Bedolla (penalty kick)
83' | Longwood – Mamdouh Habashy (Bedolla)