SALEM, Va. - It was a crisp evening in Salem Virginia as the Pacers looked to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the 2025 season.
The Pacers, showing signs of fatigue and minor injuries, needed to rally against a very good Roanoke squad in order to earn a positive result.
The first 20 minutes of the match were a struggle for possession. The Pacers weren't generating much on the offensive side of the field, only winning one corner kick and getting off one shot that missed the frame. Meanwhile, Roanoke amassed 5 shots in those same 20 minutes, putting the Pacers on their heels early.
A couple of substitutions meant fresh legs for the Pacers in the 26th minute and the result was a rejuvenated attack. Roberto Rayo and Ausar Omwenga both got shots off, Omwenga's requiring a save from the Roanoke goalkeeper.
From the 35th minute until the end of the half, the game once again entered into a back and forth struggle for possession with offensive chances becoming scarce.
As the second half started, the Pacers would dig deeper into their depth, hoping to maintain health while also seeking a spark.
The Pacers were able to scare the goal a few times within the first 5 minutes of the second half as Gabe Faria barely missed the frame and Andrew Mesnard had a shot blocked.
Faria launched another shot in the 59th minute, this one on frame which forced the Maroon goal keeper, Aidan McHugh, into action once more.
Unfortunately for Pacer fans, McHugh only had to make two saves on the night as Peace's offensive attack was not always present.
As time continued to elapse, offensive chances seemed to feel like a distant memory instead of a constant barrage as they had been at different points of the early 2025 season.
However, in the last minute of the game, the Maroons broke through. Roanoke took the ball down the field as if they had done it with ease all night and slipped one past Ayden Miller for a heart-crunching 90th minute winner.
Roanoke ended the match with a slight edge in the stat columns, barely leading in shots (10-7), shots on goal (3-2), and corner kicks (6-4).
Peace doesn't have much time to lick their wounds, as they must bounce back during their last scheduled back-to-back of the season, with a pair of matches this weekend.
