RALEIGH, NC -- William Peace University Men's Soccer opened the regular season with a 2-1 win against Johnson & Wales University of Charlotte. The Pacers would go into halftime trailing 1-0, but Donnie Leahy would tie the game 1-1 before Travis Garner-Mcgraw would tally his first collegiate goal to put the Pacers ahead 2-1, which would end up being the game-winning goal.
THE BASICS
- Final score: William Peace 2 , JWU 1
- Records: William Peace (1-0), JWU (2-3)
- Location: Raleigh, NC
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pacers would begin the first half in control, getting a few early chances from TJ Hurd and Elysee Blague, but keeper Michael Vasquez was able to keep the Pacers off the scoreboard. On a set piece, the Wildcats would serve it in, and a scramble in front would allow Victor Lucero to hit it in and put Johnson & Wales up 1-0. Neither team would get many chances for the remainder of the half, and the game would go into halftime still 1-0.
In the second half, the Pacers would put a few early shots on net. Andres Lopez would pick up play in the midfield and slot it through to Donnie Leahy, who would get a last touch on it as the keeper came out and would find the back of the net to tie the game 1-1 at 53:40. The Pacers would continue with the high intensity for the rest of the second half. At 64:28, Danny Alvarez would find Travis Garner-Mcgraw wide, who would be in on goal and take a composed touch in front of net and slot one past the keeper to put the Pacers up 2-1. This would be the game-winning goal and secure the Pacers a 2-1 win in their season opener.
PACER TOP PERFORMERS
- Travis Garner-Mcgraw tallied his first collegiate goal.
- Donnie Leahy scored the other goal for the Pacers, which was the game-tying goal.
FOR THE FOES
- Victor Lucero tallied the goal for the Wildcats.
NEXT GAME
The Pacers will travel to Virginia Beach, VA, to take on Regent University on September 16th.
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