AIKEN, SC--USC Aiken men’s soccer bid farewell to eight seniors in dramatic fashion on Saturday night in Peach Belt Conference action. The Pacers (0-10-0, 0-6-0 PBC) were within one play of springing the biggest upset of the season against 10th ranked UNC Pembroke (15-1-0, 5-1-0 PBC) at “Pacer Pit”. Joe Warenda’s goal in the 105th minute of the second overtime lifted the Braves to the 2-1 win.

With 4:35 remaining in the first overtime, senior Shawn Ord played the ball ahead to a streaking Mamadou Ndoye who beat goalkeeper Alex Hall one-on-one for what appeared to be the thrilling game winner. An offside call, however, wiped out the goal.

UNC Pembroke out shot the Pacers 26-7, but USCA held the lead for over 60 minutes in the contest. Senior Jean-Pascal Bozso netted his second goal of the season when he beat Hall on a rebound in front of the net to make it 1-0 in the 13th minute.

Senior goalkeeper Peter Calabrese, turning in his finest game of his stellar four-year career, stopped 10 shots on the night. UNC Pembroke was awarded a penalty kick in the 34th minute of play, but Calabrese stoned the Braves to preserve the 1-0 lead.

In the 43rd minute, senior Neil Jackson received his second caution of the match resulting in his ejection, forcing the Pacers to play a man down for the reminder of the contest.

UNC Pembroke controlled play much of the second half, finally cashing in on a scoring chance with 14:59 to play when Sascha Gorres beat Calabrese from straight on in the box off a Thomas Lindal pass to knot it at 1-1.

USCA had two solid scoring chances inside of 10 minutes to play in regulation. Ndoye’s header at 9:34 from inside 10 yards was saved by Hall while Andre Joseph’s shot from a sharp angle off the right side just sailed high at 6:49.

In the first overtime, Calabrese made two more spectacular saves. With 7:23 on the clock, Christopher Schiessl fired from right in front of the net as Calabrese knocked it down and while on the ground saved the rebound attempt by Trond Myrland.

During halftime festivities, USC Aiken honored Calabrese, Bozso, Ord, Jackson, Greg Cooke, Brandon Smith, Shawn Dodaro, and Chris Gratop.

USC Aiken closes out the 2003 regular season and will await the announcement of its 2003 Peach Belt Conference Tournament opponent.

Men’s Soccer...................1...2...OT...OT...Final
#10 UNC Pembroke.........0...1...0.......1....2
USC Aiken........................1...0...0.......0....1

Scoring
USCA: Jean-Pascal Bozso (Neil Jackson, 12:33)
UNCP: Sascha Gorres (Thomas Lindal, 75:01)
UNCP: Joe Warenda (Gorres, 104:06)

Shots UNCP 26, USCA 7
Corner kicks UNCP 12, USCA 1
Offsides UNCP 3, USCA 2
Saves USCA 10 (Peter Calabrese), UNCP 2 (Alex Hall)
Cards USCA: Neil Jackson (Y, 18:24); Andre Joseph (Y, 34:23); Jackson (R, 42:51); Neil Berment (Y, 46:56); Benjamin Cawley (Y, 55:52); Jamie Cooper (Y, 101:55)

Boxscore

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