LEXINGTON, Va. -- 110 minutes of action was not enough time to produce a goal as VMI and Winthrop dueled to a scoreless tie on Sunday afternoon at Patchin Field. Both goalkeepers played pivotal roles in today's game, halting several scoring chances and keeping the opposing team off the scoreboard.
VMI improves to 5-5-2 and 1-1-1 in conference play, while Winthrop moves to 7-2-2, and 1-1-1 in the Big South.
VMI freshman goalie
Brian Sowell recorded nine saves on the day to earn his fourth shutout of the season, tying him with Thomas Upton (2004), John Simmons (2001) and Gary Morgan (1977). Winthrop goalie Patrick Mitrovich stopped four VMI scoring chances to pick up his second shutout of the year.
The game's best scoring chance came in the 24th minute when the Eagles were awarded a penalty kick after forward Saidi Isaac was taken down inside the penalty box. Winthrop's Daniel Revivo struck the penalty try to the right corner, but a diving Sowell was there to deflect the ball out and away from the goal.
VMI's best scoring chance came in the 89th minute when
Daniel Welsh collected a pass in front of the net and fired a shot on goal. However, the close-range shot was deflected away by Mitrovich, sending the game into overtime.
The Eagles applied the pressure in the first overtime five shots, four of them on goal, and put a scare into the Keydets when Stephen Nsereko hit the left post on a shot from the right side.
Today's game was a physical contest that produced 41 fouls and five bookings. Late in the first half, Winthrop was forced to play a man-down for the remainder of the game as Miquel Casajuana was sent off after a hard foul, followed by an ejection of an Eagles' Coach.
The two teams each took 11 shots in regulation, but Winthrop held an 8-2 edge in the two overtime periods. Winthrop also held the advantage in corner kicks by an 8-5 margin.
VMI will now hit the road for a mid-week, non-conference matchup with Wofford on Wednesday, October 17 at 6 p.m. Winthrop next plays on Sunday, October 21 in Rock Hill, S.C. against Radford.
