Two Second Half Goals Doom Strong Pacer Opening in 2-1 Loss to NGCSU
AIKEN, S.C. - USC Aiken's women's soccer team began its first Peach Belt Conference match of the 2009 season against North Georgia with a Jenny Pineiro goal in the 14th-minute, but it would not be enough as the Saints would rally for two second half goals to earn a 2-1 victory over USC Aiken on Saturday afternoon at "Pacer Pit."
Kelly Penston secured the game-winning goal for North Georgia when she opportunistically plucked a loose ball in the 85th-minute in the top half of the box and then sent it into the lower left corner of the net past Pacer goalkeeper Nicole Westphal (Springfield, Va./Paul VI Catholic).
North Georgia had entered the second half down 1-0 to the Pacers, but Katie Turner reversed the Saints' fortunes in the 73rd-minute when Katie Turner chested in a cross through the low part of the box into the net for a 1-1 tie.
Pineiro (Charleston, S.C./Fort Dorchester) first placed the Pacers on the scoreboard at the 13:45 mark when she blasted a shot into the upper middle of the net past North Georgia goalkeeper Jessica English. She was assisted on the play by Diana Eaton (Clover, S.C./Clover).
North Georgia held a slight 14-9 advantage in shots in the match. The Pacers held a 6-5 advantage in shots in the first half, but the Saints rebounded to take six more (9-3) shots than the Pacers in the second stanza. Although nothing materialized from them, North Georgia took nine corner kicks in the match. USC Aiken was awarded just one corner kick in the match.
Westphal picked up three saves in the match, while English made five saves in the Saints' win.
USC Aiken is now 1-3-0 (0-1 PBC) on the 2009 season, while North Georgia improved to 3-0-1 (1-0 PBC) with its victory.
The Pacers next return to action for a road tilt against the Cobras of Coker College at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15 in Hartsville, S.C. The Pacers will close out the week by playing host to Mars Hill at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.
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