Tuesday, September 7, 2004

SAINTS AND PACERS BATTLE TO 3-3 TIE IN NON-CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER ACTION

Aiken, S.C. - USC Aiken (2-0-1) overcame a 2-1 half-time deficit to post a 3-3 tie against North Georgia College & State University (2-1-2) in men's non-conference soccer action on Saturday evening at “Pacer Pit”.

The Pacers have played three matches thus far this season with all three needing overtime, two into double OT. However the surprising Pacers, after failing to win a match in 2003 at 0-11-0, are off to their second best start in the school's NCAA history (dating back to 1991).

Ciro Pelliccia got the Saints on the board first in the 22nd minute scoring on a breakaway after a nice feed from Kent Thornton . Calvin Smith headed in a corner kick from Jake Nelson in the 30th minute as North Georgia appeared in control with a comfortable 2-0 lead heading towards the intermission.

Emmanuel Maduka , however, resurrected the Pacers hopes of remaining unbeaten with a rebound goal off a corner kick in the 32nd minute to set the score at the break at 2-1.

Tempers flared as the second half opened with the Saints goalkeeper Vince Neal receiving a red card following a collision with Mamadou Ndoye just 28 seconds in. Awarded a penalty kick, Ndoye beat new keeper Chapin LaChance to knot the game up at 2-2. In total, there were nine cards handed out and the teams combined for 30 fouls.

Maduka netted his second marker of the evening in the 62nd minute off a Georgi Peev cross to put the Pacers in front for the first time at 3-2.

But with time winding down, Pellicia struck again, this time off a Nelson corner kick in the 83rd minute to produce the 3-3 tie at the end of regulation. Neither team was able to mark in the two 10-minute overtime periods.

Neal allowed one goal and recorded one save in just over 45 minutes in net for NGCSU. LaChance stopped two shots and let in two goals.

Harold Tate registered two saves and two goals against in playing the first half in net for the Pacers. Marcos Rodriguez made his Pacer debut in the second half, logging 65 minutes and giving up one goal.

The Saints have the week off as they gear up to battle #4 USC Upstate during the opening of the new North Georgia Soccer Complex on September 11. The match begins at 4:00 p.m. following the women's match. USC Aiken will travel to Lakeland, Fla. to face Florida Southern on Saturday, September 11 at 7:30 PM.

Box Score

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