Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's soccer team earned a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Clayton State Friday evening in a Peach Belt Conference contest.
The Pacers are now 5-4-3 on the season, including a 2-3-1 mark against league foes.
After allowing an early goal on a breakaway, head coach Ike Ofoje's squad battled back to knot the contest just prior to intermission. Andre Simmond touched the ball and Adria Dalmau blasted a shot from the side of the box, making it a 1-1 score.
The team had chances earlier in the half to take the lead, but it was unable to do so. Simmond took a corner kick and Ryan Dwyer rocketed a shot that was high over the frame in the 25th minute of action.
In the second period, neither team had a clear shot on target in the early going as both had attempts blocked. At the 62:22 mark, Chase Boulton came up huge as he stopped a Laker from point-blank range. Three minutes later, he swarmed the ball on another attempt, keeping the contest knotted at 1-1.
USC Aiken controlled much of the second period and finally broke through with the second goal of the match when Simmond played the ball along the end-line to Nathan Shanko. He took the pass that was crossed from the other side of the pitch and one-timed it into the back of the net for the advantage.
The Pacers had several chances to increase the lead over the final 22-plus minutes, but the squad was unable to do so.
Billy Johns fired wide in the 71st minute, which marked the team's last shot of the match. The team had a few chances on break-away attempts, but it played the ball to the corner on multiple occasions. The squad also played stellar defense as the Lakers mustered just one shot on target after allowing the Pacers' second goal.
For the match, Ofoje's team was out-shot 11-7. USC Aiken held a 5-4 edge in corner kicks. Boulton recorded five saves in the match.
The teams combined for 21 fouls, but neither team was whistled for a yellow card.
The Pacers return to action Monday when they host Georgia Southwestern at 6 p.m. Live stats, video and audio are available at PacerSports.com.
