Anderson (S.C.) eliminates Wingate from NCAA regional tourney with 2-0 victory

Wingate, N.C.-Anderson University junior midfielder Lasse Sohrweide (Flensberg, Germany) had a goal and an assist to lead the Trojans of Anderson University past Wingate University 2-0 in quarterfinal action of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional men’s soccer tournament Wednesday afternoon. The Trojans improve to 15-5-1 overall; they will face the number one seed the University of Montevallo (Ala.) Friday at 7 p.m. in the regional semifinals. The Bulldogs end their SAC championship season at 15-4 overall.
           
The 2010 South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year, Sohrweide netted the game-winner in the 18th minute, beating his defender and striking a line drive into the opposite corner for his 16th goal of the season. Wingate nearly had the immediate answer 10 seconds later, but a header from senior midfielder Adam Cunningham (Gastonia, N.C.) from right in front of the goal sailed wide.
           
The Trojans took a 2-0 advantage in the 35th minute, when a lead pass from Sohrweide found junior midfielder Mark Smith (Point Pleasant, W.Va) behind the defense. Smith beat the keeper for his fourth goal of the year to make it 2-0.
           
The Bulldogs had a golden opportunity to cut into the deficit four minutes later, but a shot from sophomore midfielder Piero Riva (Sao Paulo, Brazil) hit the crossbar. Wingate senior forward Jhamie Chinn (Oviedo, Fla.) tried to head home the rebound, but Anderson senior goalkeeper Benjamin Pepion (Denton, France) was there for the save.

The ‘Dogs had several opportunities to score in the second half, but were unable to find the back of the net. Junior midfielder Fabricio Barancoski (Sao Paulo, Brazil) got behind the defense 13 minutes into the second half, but his shot was saved by Pepion. Wingate had one more chance in the closing seconds, but a shot from senior midfielder Luke Mulholland (Preston, England) deflected off the far post, across the goal and off the other post as time ran out.
           
Wingate outshot Anderson 14-8 on the afternoon, while holding a 6-4 edge in shots on goal. Mulholland took a match-high four shots for the Bulldogs, while both shots from Barancoski were on goal. Smith and Sohrweide had two shots each for the Trojans.
           
Pepion collected six saves for Anderson to secure the shutout. It is only the third time this season Wingate has been shutout. Freshman goalkeeper Austin White (Batesburg, S.C.) collected two saves in his collegiate debut for the Bulldogs.

(Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton wrote this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)