SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA - Wofford (4-5-1) secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Queens (NC) (4-4-1) on Tuesday evening at Snyder Field, with Nathan Simes delivering the winning goal in the 83rd minute before a crowd of 847.
The match's decisive moment came when Simes found space on the right side and slotted home a low shot to the left corner in the 83rd minute, breaking a 1-1 deadlock. Earlier, Stewart Patnaud had opened the scoring for Wofford in the 6th minute with a precise strike to the low center of the goal. Queens equalized through Michael Tzimoulis, who tested Wofford goalkeeper Pepe Hinterschuster multiple times throughout the match.
The first half saw Wofford dominate possession and create numerous chances. Kalle Rahbeck tested the Queens defense with two early attempts in the 3rd and 5th minutes, while Nathan Simes forced a save in the 11th minute. Queens received an early setback when Jaiden Anderson was shown a yellow card in the 16th minute for unsporting behavior. The visitors struggled to maintain possession but showed resilience in defense, limiting Wofford to mostly long-range efforts.
The second half brought increased intensity from both sides. Queens pressed higher up the pitch, with Michel Feldman forcing a crucial save from Hinterschuster in the 81st minute. Wofford made tactical adjustments, bringing on Fabian Menendez for Sam Diebold in the 76th minute to add fresh legs to their attack. The substitution proved influential in maintaining pressure that ultimately led to Simes' winner.
Statistically, Wofford held a slight advantage, recording 18 shots to Queens' 16, with both teams managing 7 saves. The home side earned 3 corner kicks to Queens' 2, while the match saw six yellow cards distributed - four to Queens and two to Wofford players, reflecting the intense nature of the contest.
Individual performances stood out on both sides. Wofford's Nathan Simes was particularly impressive, recording multiple shots including the match-winner. Goalkeeper Pepe Hinterschuster made seven crucial saves, including a vital stop from Jacob Kempton's attempt in the 90th minute. For Queens, Michel Feldman showed creativity in midfield, testing Hinterschuster multiple times, while Otto Gustafsson provided defensive stability despite receiving a late yellow card.
Tactically, Wofford's approach focused on building attacks through the wings, with Kalle Rahbeck and Stewart Patnaud providing width and creating crossing opportunities. Queens adopted a more counter-attacking style, utilizing the pace of Michael Tzimoulis and Kyriakos Christodoulou to threaten on the break.
The victory extends Wofford's unbeaten run to two matches following their draw against Georgia State, while Queens suffered their second defeat in three matches. The result demonstrates Wofford's growing confidence at home, particularly in close contests where they've shown ability to find late winners.
Both teams made strategic substitutions throughout the match, with Wofford's late changes proving particularly effective. The introduction of Declan Mettee and Alejandro Moreno in the 87th minute helped secure the result, while Queens' substitution of Brock Lucena for Christodoulou couldn't prevent the late winner.
Looking ahead, Wofford will aim to build on this momentum when they host VMI on October 4th, while Queens (NC) faces a challenging road test at Lipscomb on the same date, seeking to bounce back from this narrow defeat.