Rocky Mount, N.C. - The final day of September displayed overcast, groggy weather for the first USA South conference match up for the Pacers. The start of the match mirrored the weather. No flashy passing, no crazy attempts on the frame, just two teams that came out and bogged down around midfield. 

There was only one shot in the first 20 minutes, coming from Wesleyan in the 13th minute, and it missed the frame. It was clear that offensive chances in this game would need to be tactically built up from the back. Both teams leaned on their strong defensive mentality, and looked to work the ball up the touchline from there. 

The Pacers struggled to get into the offensive stat sheet throughout the first half. Besides the abundance of throw ins, the Pacers did not tally any shots or corner kicks in the first half-hour plus. 

On the other side, Wesleyan started to experience more frequent chances. A shot in the 30th and 31st minute both missed high as Pacer goalkeeper Ayden Miller had the frame covered. 

Coach Huber made a couple offensive substitutions around the 33 minute mark, seeking for someone to generate a good chance. 

Peace won a corner kick in the 36th minute, but could not convert. Wesleyan launched a counter off the missed chance and won a corner of their own. Wesleyan executed on their corner in the 38th minute, sneaking the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead.

The Bishops carried their lead into the halftime break, while Peace only recorded 1 offensive stat in the first half, the one corner kick back in the 36th. 

The second half started with a reinvigorated Pacer attack, winning a corner kick in the 50th minute. Defender Andrew Mesnard came up and got a piece of the corner, directing it just high. 

Wesleyan answered back with a chance of their own just 2 minutes later. Ayden Miller was up to the task this time, making the save and keeping the Pacers in it. The Bishops generated 2 corner kicks in the 58th, neither resulting in a shot. 

In the 59th minute, Peace gained possession and started to slowly work their way down the pitch. Realizing that offense was hard to come by, freshman Ibra Ndiaye took things into his own hands. Off a 60th minute throw-in, Ndiaye charged towards the net and powered one into the back of the net, beating Bishop keeper, Jacob Westmark, low right. 

A platoon of subs entered for the Bishops after the Pacers evened the score. The goal seemed to inspire the Pacers and they caught a second wind, starting to take more possession and challenge just that much harder. 

In the 78th minute, Sophomore defender Zach Marlier finished a quality ball from Rafa Quevedo-Antunez to put the Pacers in front. Marlier's first goal of the season put Peace up 2-1.

Just one minute later, Gabe Faria added a Pacer 3rd, and what was a slow first half had grown into a monsoon of offensive chances. 

The insurance goal from Faria proved quite important as the Bishops drew back within one in the 82nd minute. 

The Pacers didn't change their approach in the last 8 minutes of the game, still pushing down the field looking for the dagger. Peace reserve, Topher Johnson got a shot on frame that was saved by Westmark. 

Just when the game seemed to be decided, Wesleyan broke through on a desperate final push, tying the game just before the final whistle. The five goals scored in the roller coaster second half were a complete 180 from the first half. Both teams recognized the gravity of getting a good result to start conference play and Wesleyan came back to steal a 3-3 draw out of Tuesday's contest.  

Peace will return to action on Sunday, when the Pacers host Mary Baldwin University.