STATESBORO - Georgia Southern sophomore goalkeeper Jose Bomfim saved a penalty kick in the first overtime period to help the Eagles come away with a 1-1 men's soccer draw with visiting Winthrop on Tuesday evening at Eagle Field.

In the final non-conference match of the season, the Georgia Southern Eagles (6-6-2) earned a draw with the Winthrop Eagles (4-9-1) heading into the final three Sun Belt matches of the season. Georgia Southern will hit the road on Saturday, traveling to Washington, D.C., to face Howard on Saturday at 1 p.m.

For the fourth straight match, Georgia Southern scored early in the first half to take a 1-0 lead into intermission. This time it was senior Aldair Cortes who delivered a side-volley from just outside the left edge of the box into the upper 90 in the 11th minute for his fifth goal of the season and the halftime advantage. 

Winthrop equalized in the 68th minute as a long cross from the left side by Jordan Walshaw took a deflection and found the foot of Marc Carreras, who finished easily inside the near post to make the score 1-1. 

In the first overtime period, Carreras had a chance to collect a second straight overtime winner for the visiting Eagles. Carreras had an OT winner for Winthrop in Sunday's 2-1 win over Radford. A handball in the box whistled against Georgia Southern's Gonzalo Talavera set up Carreras for a try from the spot in the 92nd minute, but Bomfim dove to his left and pushed aside the shot. The rebound came back to Carreras, and his follow was also saved by a sprawling Bomfim.

Georgia Southern had a 6-3 edge in shots in the first overtime period and also had a 4-0 edge in shots in the second overtime period, but neither team could find the back of the net in the extra periods.

"You don't need a double overtime game in midweek," Georgia Southern Head Men's Soccer Coach John Murphy said. "But I think there's lots of positives that we can draw from it. I thought Jose's save in overtime was a very difficult thing to do against their top player on the day. Number 10 [Carreras] was outstanding, and to save a penalty off a top player like that says a lot about Jose."

Bomfim finished the match with six saves, his fourth straight match for the Eagles with five or more saves. Chandler Gaunce started the match in net for Winthrop and made three saves, giving up one goal, while Sam Jones started the second half and played both overtime periods, making five saves. GS finished the match with a 22-15 edge in shots and had a 13-6 edge in corner kicks. Georgia Southern also had 15 fouls and two offsides on the evening, while Winthrop committed nine fouls and six offsides.

"We had some good glimpses, but again, Winthrop are not just gonna come here and lie down," Murphy said. "They played much better in the second half. We had chances, but didn't get the second goal and they came back into the game. But we got a result, and we'll build on it and get ready for Saturday."