CARY, NC -- The William Peace University men's soccer team opened up their season at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday afternoon in a contest against the Hornets of Shenandoah University. After battling it out through two halves of play, the Pacers ended regulation in a 1-1 tie. Due to inclement weather in the area, the Pacers were unable to begin overtime play.

The Pacers opened up strong on the attack with several shots on goal within the first 15 minutes of play. Freshmen Jorge Aguilar and Ivan Ponce led the attack and combined for 9 shots with  most of them coming in the first half. The Pacers would continue to knock on the door of the Hornets defense, but were unable to get anything on the board. The Hornets would prove dangerous off of set pieces coming close to connecting, on a handful of corner kicks and free kicks just outside the eighteen. The first half would come to a close with the two teams knotted at zero.

The Pacers would have a lackluster start to the second half and the Hornets took advantage and pushed forward. Derrick David and Andrew Kappel would force two difficult saves by WPU keeper, Jacob Smith, who had a solid performance in net for the Pacers. With twenty minutes left in the second half, the Pacers would again regain their rhythm and would start to connect passes. Diego Lugo would win the ball off of a goal kick, to then find Ivan Ponce on the left side of the field, who would cross to Jorge Aguilar, who would convert inside the box for his first goal of the season. The Hornets would answer right back and convert on one of their many set pieces, after a well-placed ball from Chance Hollins found its way through traffic inside of the eighteen to bring the Hornets back level. Both teams would push forward in the final minutes, but the game would come to 1-1 draw at the end of regulation. The overtime period was canceled due to inclement weather approaching the field.

The Pacers are back in action on Tuesday as they hit the road to square off with another ODAC opponent. The Pacers face Hampden-Sydney College at 7:00 p.m. in Hampden-Sydney, VA. Last year, the two teams gave a great game that would end 2-1 in favor of Hampden-Sydney after a late goal gave them the one-point edge.

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