Longwood University Athletics

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Brando Bedolla once again showed that he is among the best creators in the country. The junior striker factored in all four goals, more or less, as Longwood picked up an important Big South road win at Winthrop on Saturday evening.

Bedolla finished the night with five points on his first brace of the season and his nation-leading 12th assist to lead the charge. 

The Lancers (7-6-1, 2-3 Big South) scored twice in each half to record its fourth road win of the season. Sophomore Youssef Shafei tallied a goal and an assist in the win, while freshman Vicent Martinez notched the game-winning goal in the second half.

Bedolla and Shafei combined twice over a near six-minute span in the opening half to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. In the 16th minute, Bedolla blocked a clearance attempt by Winthrop goalkeeper Euan Brindley, and Shafei settled the ball before placing a right-footed shot inside the left post from 20 yards out. It was Shafei's fifth goal of the season and second in as many games.  

The duo played give-and-go inside the top of 18-yard box in the 21st minute, and Bedolla scored into the left side of the goal from eight yards out.

After a Jorge Perez goal in the 67th minute drew Winthrop within 2-1, Martinez scored his second goal of the season, both in Big South play, to push the margin back to two. Bedolla laid the ball off to Martinez in the right side of the penalty area. The freshman midfielder cut the ball back to his left foot and scored past Brindley into the right side of the frame to lift the lead to 3-1 in the 81st minute.

The Eagles (5-8-1, 2-3 Big South) again drew within one in the 84th minute as Juma Baden scored his eighth goal of the season. Longwood answered just 28 seconds later to put the game away, and of course, it was Bedolla providing the final touches. The junior forward converted a free kick inside the left post from just outside the top of the box. Bedolla leads the Lancers with seven goals on the season.  

Quotable 
"Incredible performance by the group today. I thought our energy and our readiness was incredible.

Going on the road and winning is really difficult, and I could not be prouder of the team. There are certainly some things that we need to clean up, but we will celebrate this today and then get back to work tomorrow.  Go Wood!" - Head coach Paul Gilbert  

Scoring Summary
16' | Longwood – Youssef Shafei (Brando Bedolla)
21' | Longwood – Bedolla (Shafei)
67' | Winthrop – Jorge Perez (Juma Baden)
81' | Longwood – Vicent Martinez
84' | Winthrop – Baden (Daniel Restrepo)
84' | Longwood – Bedolla

Up Next
Longwood continues Big South play with its final road league match-up at Presbyterian on Friday, Oct. 23. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.