Box Score BREVARD, N.C. – The William Peace men's soccer team made history on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Tournament MVP Jorge Lemus scored the game-winning goal in the first 33 seconds of overtime to lift the No. 4 seed Pacers over No. 2 seed Brevard 2-1 for their first-ever USA South Championship at Ives-Lemel Family Field. It is also the first conference title for William Peace in any sport as an NCAA Division III member.
"There are no words for this feeling right now," Lemus said to a USA South reporter. "I am just happy that we finally got what we earned. I am looking forward to the next game."
The men's soccer team is the first at William Peace to earn an automatic conference bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The squad will be the second team in school history to compete in NCAA postseason play, following the women's basketball team which received an at-large bid in 2020.
The Pacers will find out who their opponent will be on the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Selection Show, which will air Monday, Nov. 11, at 1:30 p.m. on the NCAA.com. A watch party will be held on campus.
The victory stopped the reign of two-year champion Brevard, who defeated the Pacers 2-1 in double overtime in the 2022 conference title game in Cary, N.C. The Pacers turned the tables on the Tornados this time around, winning by the same score on Brevard's home turf.
"It's just a surreal feeling with this group," Huber said. "A month ago we were 0-3-1 and last in the league. Now we are lifting a trophy and going to our first-ever NCAA Tournament. I'm just so proud of the guys sticking together and continuing to get better and grind it out. Two years ago we lost at home in the finals to Brevard in overtime, so winning it here is extra special, especially for our older guys."
This level of success has been building under eighth-year Head Coach Ryan Huber. His teams have posted a winning record every year with the exception of his first. The Pacers won the Eastern Division regular-season title in 2021 and reached the conference finals in 2022.
The Pacers were picked second in the league preseason poll but endured a slow start. They were winless in the conference after falling to Brevard 1-0 on Oct. 12.
But a victory over Southern Virginia in the next game ignited a six-game winning streak which culminated in a championship win. After beating Methodist 3-0 in the first round last Saturday, the Pacers faced the tall task of playing No. 1 seed North Carolina Wesleyan and No. 2 seed Brevard on the road.
Both times, the Pacers came away with the win in overtime. First, it was clutch plays by Brennan Lagana and Daniel Romanchok that beat N.C. Wesleyan. Lagana scored the game-winning goal in OT on Romanchok's assist after he stole a pass near the Battling Bishops' goal.
On Saturday, Lemus, the school's career goals and points leader, fittingly ended the game with the winning goal to give the Pacers the league crown. It was the second goal for Lemus, who scored on a penalty kick to tie the contest in the second half after Brevard took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Pacers' defense has been rock solid during the win streak, and it was the same against Brevard. The unit featuring defenders Kwame Semackor, Jean Murillo, Aidan Kamaris, Zach Marlier and Gavin Beaupre shut out the Tornados in the second half.
And goalkeeper Ayden Miller was amazing. He recorded four saves on five shots on goal by Brevard.
The Pacers' winning streak started after Miller was inserted into the starting lineup. Counting Saturday's game, the Pacers have outscored opponents 15-3.
Miller was one of 11 players, including six Pacers, named to the All-Tournament team. Lemus headlined the squad, which included Miller, Lagana, Romanchok, Ausar Omwenga and Semackor.
With their superb blend of offense and defense, the Pacers were truly the best team in the USA South when it mattered. Now their eyes are on the NCAA postseason.
2024 All-Tournament Team
F - Brennan Lagana, William Peace
F - Jorge Lemus, William Peace (MVP)
F - Ryan Lynch, Brevard
F - Ausar Omwenga, William Peace
M - Caue dos Santos, Brevard
M - Jackson Gorringe, Southern Virginia
M - Danny Romanchok, William Peace
D - Bastien Dechamps, N.C. Wesleyan
D - Tom Dussauge, Brevard
D - Kwame Semackor, William Peace
GK - Ayden Miller, William Peace
