BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- Magnus Thorsson's second goal of the match in the 104th minute lifted Winthrop to a 4-3 victory over the Gardner-Webb men's soccer team on Wednesday evening at Greene-Harbison Stadium.
Winthrop outshot Gardner-Webb 27-11 for the match, but the Runnin' Bulldogs held a slight 8-7 advantage in corner kick opportunities. Ali Al-Gashamy led the way for GWU with four shots and Marvin Mendy had three attempts toward the Eagle goal, while Thorsson totaled a game-high seven shots, two of which he put behind the William Liles.
Liles made his fourth consecutive start in net for the Dogs and recorded six saves for the match, including five big saves in the second half.
Gardner-Webb led the game on two different occasions, including take a 3-2 advantage on Sami Jilla's goal in the 79th minute, but Thorsson tied the game at three in the 87th minute and notched his second of the match that lifted the Eagles to victory.
The match would get off to a slow start as both teams attempted to get their possession going in the opening minutes. It was not until the ninth minute of the game that either team would attempt a shot on goal.
Later on in the first half, Max Hasenstab received a pass from Marco Gatzke and put it past Liles to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute.
Gardner-Webb earned a corner kick in the 35th minute and Frej Ramberg crossed the ball into the box, which Nathan Rose headed the ball to Jascha Gluckschalt at the back post, and the sophomore defender put the shot into the empty net to tie the game at one.
Just after halftime, Mendy gave the Dogs the lead with his third goal of the season. Just three minutes later, Hasenstab was at it again notching his second of the evening to tie the game at two.
The score would remain tied until the 79th minute. Winthrop misplayed a bouncing ball, which allowed Mendy to sprint past the defense and corrale the ball towards goal, which he laid off to Jilla, who thenslotted it into the empty net to put GWU up 3-2.
It looked as if the Dogs would hold on for their first conference victory of the season, but Thorsson tied the game at three in the 87th minute and would score his second of the match the 104th minute to lift the Eagles to victory.
Gardner-Webb takes to the road for its next match Saturday, when it travels to Lynchburg, Va. To face Liberty at 12:00 p.m.
