Next Game:
at High Point
11/8/2026 | 7 p.m.
Nov. 08 (Sun) / 7 p.m.
at High Point
ROCK HILL, S.C. – In a season loaded with thrilling wins and big numbers, Longwood men’s soccer added another chapter on Wednesday night in the first round of the Big South Championship.
Junior striker Brando Bedolla factored in all four goals as the Lancers scored early and often, knocking off No. 4 seed Winthrop, 4-0. Thanks to its sixth road win of the season, Longwood (9-7-1) advances to the Big South semifinals for the second time in three seasons under head coach Paul Gilbert. The Lancers travel top seed High Point on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Bedolla, who earned national player of the week honors after totaling five points on two goals and an assist in the regular season meeting with the Eagles, picked up right where he left off scoring a goal via penalty kick and assisting on the other three Longwood tallies. Freshman Vicent Martinez scored the game winner for the second time in as many trips to Winthrop (6-9-3), while sophomore Youssef Shafei and freshman Mamdouh Habashy each added a goal as well.
With his three assists, Bedolla pushed his season total to 16, which leads the country. It also ranks as the ninth most in Big South history and the most in 16 years.
As it did in the first match between the teams in Rock Hill, the Lancers scored twice in the opening 45 minutes to jump out to a lead it would not relinquish. Longwood quickly went defense to offense, catching Winthrop on the counter in the 14th minute. Senior Ezrah Serralde and Bedolla combined in the midfield with the latter setting Martinez free down the right side. The Lancer rookie finished with a low liner underneath Winthrop goalkeeper Kevin Christensen for his third goal of the season.
Shafei doubled the lead in the 30th minute with a rebound goal, his sixth of the season. On the play, Bedolla had a free kick just outside the penalty area, but Christensen made a diving save to his right. Shafei won the race to the rebound and kissed it off the post and in to extend the margin to 2-0. Shafei has tallied a point in each of Longwood’s last five matches.
The Lancers’ momentum picked up steam in the second half when Winthrop’s Sam Crolla was sent off in the 70th minute. Just three minutes later, Bedolla was clipped by a charging Christensen on a breakaway to earn a Longwood penalty. He converted the spot kick to push the lead to 3-0. It was his team-leading ninth goal of the season.
With Winthrop throwing numbers forward and now down two players after a second red card, Longwood scored again on the counterattack. Bedolla flipped a header to set Habashy free, and the freshman scored on a shot to the left post in the 83rd minute. It was his first career tally.
Longwood outshot the Eagles, 20-14, on the evening. Graduate student goalkeeper Nicolas Pucci recorded his second shutout of the season, making two saves, both in the second half, to blank Winthrop.
It was a historic night for multiple reasons. With the four goals, the Lancers established a new Division I program mark for goals in a season (37). It was the program’s ninth win, which ranks second in the Division I era, and sixth victory on the road, which is second in school history. Longwood is one of only six programs nationally with six or more road wins this season. It marks the fourth time Longwood has advanced to the Big South semifinals in its eight trips to the league tournament.
Quotable
“I’m incredibly proud of the team tonight. It was a very disciplined performance from opening kick to the final whistle. We controlled large portions of the match, defended well in our penalty area, and took our chances well. I can’t say enough about our leaders and the standard that they set and have held throughout the season. I’m grateful for the people in our locker room. We are excited to get back to campus and start preparing for High Point.” – Head Coach Paul Gilbert
Scoring Summary
14′ | Longwood – Vicent Martinez (Brando Bedolla / Ezrah Serralde)
30′ | Longwood – Youssef Shafei (Bedolla)
74′ | Longwood – Bedolla (penalty kick)
83′ | Longwood – Mamdouh Habashy (Bedolla)