Box Score YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The No. 4 University of South Carolina Aiken men's soccer team lost a hard-fought 3-1 decision to No. 5 Pfeiffer in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Pacers, who made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, wrap up the season with a 14-6-1 mark. The 14 victories established a school record for wins.
The Falcons netted the first goal of the contest just 6:10 into the match off a direct kick for a 1-0 lead.
USC Aiken fought back, tying the contest at the 32:19 mark. Andre Simmond raced down the middle of the pitch and calmly connected with the ball, sending it to past the keeper and tying the match at 1-1.
However, Pfeiffer scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal off a free kick just 2:25 later.
With just under 10 minutes remaining in the opening period, head coach Ike Ofoje's team tried to even the match. Noel Mais fired a shot toward the goal but was turned away by the keeper.
The Pacers applied pressure on the offensive end of the pitch and it resulted in a pair of corner kicks from Simmond. His second effort from the corner flag found Ryan Dwyer, but his attempt was blocked at the 38:32 mark. It was the last chance Ofoje's team would have in the first period.
In the second half, the Falcons came out and recorded the first four attempts before Jan Wester blasted a shot on frame in the 58th minute.
At the 59:40 mark, Pfeiffer countered and scored for a 3-1 lead.
Ofoje made three substitutions in the next two minutes of play, but the offense was unable to get on track as the Falcons continued applying pressure.
It was not until Simmond broke free for a shot on goal in the 73rd minute that the Pacers' offense had a clean look. Off the rebound, Dean Smith fired a shot that narrowly missed the back of the net as it hit the crossbar.
Dwyer nearly pulled the team within one at the 77:27 mark, but his shot hit the post. Simmond had a shot that was blocked in the 85th minute. He was able to follow it up with back-to-back corner kicks and McKinley Blezin had a shot on goal, but the team was unable to convert any attempt into scores.
For the match, Joshua Poissant stopped five shots while playing 62:08. Brandon Jarosz stopped a pair of attempts while playing the final 27:52.
USC Aiken was out-shot 23-12 but held an 8-7 advantage in corner kicks.
