DUE WEST, S.C. – The University of South
Carolina Aiken men's soccer team fell by a 4-1 count Saturday
afternoon at Erskine in a non-conference road match.
The Pacers are now 3-7-2 on the season.
Erskine jumped on top of head coach Ike Ofoje's team with an
unassisted goal in the 23rd minute of play. However, USC
Aiken clamped down the rest of the period and did not give up
another tally.
Trailing 1-0 in the second period, the Pacers allowed a goal off a
free kick at the 58:01 mark. Ofoje's team, however, would
battle back rather quickly.
With the clock showing 59:44, Noel Mais rocketed home a shot off
the crossbar that found its way past the end-line, trimming the
deficit to just one, 2-1.
The Pacers continued applying pressure, trying to get the
equalizer. USC Aiken posted two corner kicks within a 30-second
span in the 63rd minute, but the home squad did not
allow a shot during the flurry. In the 72nd
minute, Sajih Daychoum blasted a shot that the keeper was able to
get in front of.
Erskine notched two goals in a seven-minute span without allowing
the Pacers to get a shot, which gave the team a 4-1 advantage it
would not relinquish.
In the closing minutes, USC Aiken recorded four corner kick. The
team also had shots on goal by Carson Villa along with Manuel
Medina, but the squad was unable to convert either attempt into a
goal.
For the match, Joshua Poissant played all 90 minutes in goal and
stopped four shots. The Pacers and Erskine each had 14 shots in the
contest.
Ofoje's team held a 9-5 advantage in corner kicks.
USC Aiken returns to action Saturday at Montevallo in a 7:30 p.m.
EST contest.