Lexington, Va. - Winthrop University (9-4-1, 4-2-0 Big South) senior midfielder Vali Arnason scored two goals and notched an assist, Saturday afternoon, in the Eagles 3-1 victory over VMI (4-12-0, 0-6-0 Big South) in a Big South Conference men's soccer game at Patchin Field.

Winthrop's first score came on a perfect indirect kick off the foot of Arnason just 3:47 into the contest.

The score remained 1-0 throughout the first-half until Keydet freshman forward Charles Nweke (Virginia Beach, Va. / Cox) took a pass from freshman forward Alec Winsper (Virginia Beach, Va. / Cox) at midfield and dribbled all the way downfield before tapping it by the Winthrop goalkeeper with 47-seconds remaining in the half.

Twenty-five minutes into the second-half Arnason struck again with a goal to put the Eagles up for good, 2-1.

Five-minutes later Winthrop junior midfielder Lloyd Afriyie scored an insurance goal on an assist from Arnason to put the game away, 3-1.

Saturday's event at Patchin Field was the final 2003 home game for VMI men's soccer.

Four senior Keydets were honored during a pre game ceremony to recognize their four years of service in VMI men's soccer program.

Those four players were goalie Brian Douglas (Virginia Beach, Va. / Catholic), midfielder Ross Davis (Baton Rouge, La. / Woodlawn), midfielder Drew Harden (Hurst, Texas / Richland) and goalie Morgan Harris (Powell, Ohio / Worthing Kilbourne).

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 3:47 WU ARNASON, Vali (11) (unassisted)
2. 44:13 VMI NWEKE, Charles (6) (WINSPER, Alec)
3. 69:39 WU ARNASON, Vali (12) (unassisted)
4. 74:52 WU AFRIYIE, Lloyd (5) (ARNASON, Vali)

Shots: WU 8, VMI 10
Saves: WU 3 (GRANZOTTO, Andrea 3), VMI 2 (HARRIS, Morgan 1; DOUGLAS,
Brian 1)



-VMI-