ASHLAND, Va. - Stop me if you've heard this before, the Pacers were off to Virginia for another non-conference matchup. The second half of the non-conference schedule has been full of long road trips for the Pacers. This one involved a trip to Ashland, VA to meet Randolph-Macon. 

The Pacers came into their last non-conference match with a moderate case of the injury bug. The most notable injury cost the Pacers a veteran defender, Joey Hurley, who went down in Sunday's 2-0 win over Johnson and Wales. 

However, the show must go on and the Pacers looked for a solid showing in their last chance before the USA South slate comes knocking. 

The Pacers and Yellow Jackets swapped early shot opportunities within the first couple minutes. It was clear that the Yellow Jackets came out with a plan, fighting for every chance at possession. 

Randolph-Macon worked their way down the field early, putting a shot on frame that got by Ayden Miller, who was back in goal for the Pacers after an off day this weekend. 

The early goal for the Yellow Jackets seemed to take away some of that Pacer momentum that had been built on Sunday. 

Peace urgently fought back, getting several opportunities. One chance included a shot by Rafa Quevedo-Antunez in the 19th minute, but it was parried away on a golden play by Yellow Jacket goalkeeper Ethan Chenoweth.

Quevedo-Antunez tried again in the 21st, but ever so slightly missed the frame. From that point forward, Randolph-Macon began slowly taking control of the match. It seemed like there wasn't a moment where the Yellow Jackets didn't have possession for the rest of the first half. 

One shot saved by Miller, one shot off the woodwork, and another shot blocked in what felt like a Yellow Jacket offensive barrage. Macon eventually broke through again in the 35th, making the score 2-0.

Peace tried pushing back, winning a free kick and holding some possession after the second Yellow Jacket goal. But Macon added a third right before the break to deliver an early dagger. Peace found themselves down 3-0 at halftime.

The start of the second half featured a few substitutions for both squads, trying to keep fresh legs in as the game went under the lights. 

A back and forth struggle for possessions and unfinished chances for both teams unfolded in the second half. Macon had a couple shots blocked and missed the frame once in the first 20 minutes. It was a similar story for Peace offensively, as Ibra Ndiaye had the best Pacer chance saved in the 53rd minute. 

Another chance came for the Pacers in the 61st when defender Landon Tilley came up for a shot that was saved again by the Yellow Jacket goalkeeper. 

More back and forth of possession ensued as each team tapped into more and more depth. Randolph-Macon added a 4th in the 87th and the Pacers dropped their last non-conference match of 2025. 

The schedule spreads out now for Peace, as they have just two matches in the next 12 days. USA South play starts next Tuesday as Peace travels to Rocky Mount to meet NCWU.