The Johnsonian

Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Sports

With the help of two hat tricks, the men's soccer team defeated the Tornadoes of Brevard College last Tuesday night 9-1.

The Eagles, 6-2-1, wasted no time attacking the Brevard side of the field. They registered three shots on goal in the first ten minutes. Winthrop's defense began to creep up closer to the midfield line as they prepared for more aggressive offense. This ferociousness paid off in the 14th minute, as a high kick from goalie Patrick Mitrovich sailed past midfield and into the possession of Saidi Isaac who went one on one with the goalie and put it in low, right side.

Winthrop continued to persist offensively. As they passed around looking for a clean shot to the goal, defender John Gilkerson kicked a floater from the left sideline, over the Brevard defense. The ball continued to hang in the air as Daniel Revivo entered the box and stole the Goalkeepers attention; it then fell straight down barely grazing the crossbar bouncing over the goalie's head and into the net. Gilkerson's goal was his first of the year.

With 14 minutes left in the first half, a Revivo pass leaked through the Tornado defense and onto the foot of Saidi Isaac who bent a shot around the Brevard defense and into the right side of the net. Isaac's seventh goal of the year put the Eagles up 3-0.

Miguel Casajuana would score his second of the year after a cross from Dave Carton and Saidi Isaac deflected off of his foot and into the open net in the 40th minute.

Isaac would create the team's second hat trick of the year with 30 seconds left as he entered the box and dribbled around a defender and put it into the back of the net. The half would expire with the Eagles up 5-0.

As the second half opened up, Winthrop began their prowl once again. Only two minutes into the second half Winthrop took a corner kick and it got redirected off of a Brevard defender and into the goal for a Winthrop team goal, putting them up 6-0. Five minutes later Miguel Casajuana found the net again after a Magnus Leung pass reached him in front of the goal, where he put it high over the keeper's head.

After Casajuana's goal younger players began to take the field.

Just four minutes after his last goal, freshman, Casajuana scored another. Stephen Nsereko and Andrew Murphy were awarded an assist after they passed it to Casajuana who put it into the empty net. These scores made for Casajuana's first hat trick.

"It was a chance to get goals and keep improving," Casajuana said. "It was good just help the team out." Winthrop's offense was not done though. The last Eagle goal of the game came from freshman Drew Sanders who put it in from 22 yards out. It was his first of his career, and put the Eagles up 9-0.

"I can't explain it," Sanders said. "I don't get the chance to take many shots, but tonight when I hit it, I hit it good."

Brevard was not looking to be shut out however. Though they were down 9-0 they continued to fight with four minutes left. The Tornado's senior midfielder Owen Carson booted a hard shot from 25 yards out that went high right, just out of the reach of back up keeper Mike McCullion. The score would remain 9-1 for the last three minutes.

Tuesday night's game proved to be a learning experience with all starters sitting by the end of the game. It gave a chance to mix the players up and give some experience to those younger players.

"It was a good opportunity to show what we got, and we got a good result," Miguel Casajuana said.

The Eagles will pick up Big South play again as they travel to VMI on Sunday, Oct. 14.

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