Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's soccer team earned a 2-1 victory over UNC Pembroke in the Peach Belt Conference Quarterfinal.
The Pacers are now 13-4-1 on the season, establishing a school record for wins in a season. The victory also marked the first postseason win for the program since an Oct. 27, 2006 second-round victory at Clayton State. That score was also by a 2-1 count.
"We came out a bit nervous," head coach Ike Ofoje said. "It was the first time several of our players had played in a postseason match.
"We settled in after the first 15 minutes of action. After UNC Pembroke scored, we got into the flow of the match and opened up our game."
Trailing 1-0 after a goal by Kevin Vigego in the 13th minute of work, Andre Simmond collected a rebound and blasted a shot from the right across the frame, knotting the score at 1-1 in the 30th minute of action.
Simmond was not done as he blasted a free kick from 20 yards out straight down the pipe at the 41:03 mark for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
In the 65th minute, Adria Dalmau rocketed a shot from 12 yards out that sailed just high of the crossbar. Less than a minute later, Mais nearly had a score, but sent the ball just wide of the frame.
Jan Wester got into the act in the 89th minute, but his high-powered shot was blocked by the Braves' defender.
Ofoje's team could have pushed forward even more in the waning minutes, but the team was content on keeping the ball away from UNC Pembroke. The squad earned several throw ins and corner kicks en route to controlling possession.
For the match, Joshua Poissant played all 90 minutes between the pipes. He had one save.
The Pacers registered five shots to just two by the Braves. USC Aiken maintained a 5-4 edge in corner kicks. The squads combined for 31 total fouls, including three yellow cards.
The Pacers square off against No. 3 Francis Marion in the semifinals set for Friday at 2 p.m., at Blanchard Woods Park.
