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Saints Slip by USC Aiken in Rain-Shortened PBC Opener
DAHLONEGA, GA
– A single goal in the 55th minute is all it took for the
North Georgia men's soccer team to avoid the storms and sneak by
USC Aiken 1-0 on Saturday evening as both teams opened Peach Belt
Conference action in a rain shortened match at the Soccer
Complex.
The Saints stay unbeaten on the season at 3-0-1 overall and now
1-0 in Peach Belt Conference action. The Pacers, still in search of
their first victory, fall to 0-3-1 overall and 0-1 in league
action.
A game that started out under the lights ended in the midst of
thunderstorms as two separate delays stole the headlines in what
turned out to be a classic PBC showdown. After the North Georgia
offense fired numerous near misses in the opening minutes, a
lightning delay suspended play in the 26th minute, sending teams
off the field for what turned out to be a 73-minute delay.
Following the thunderstorm, both squads returned to action and
played to a scoreless tie at the half, but it was the Saints who
jumped on top in the second period as Gray Phelps scored
his first goal in a North Georgia uniform in the 56th minute.
With both teams finding little footing on the field, the Saints
sent a cross into the box, finding the foot Max Angel who deflected
the pass to Phelps for what turned out to be the game-winner.
Phelps and Angel collected their first goal and assist of the
season respectively as the duo sent the North Georgia bench into
celebration.
The Saints held off a scrappy Pacer bunch down the stretch before
the rains came once again, forcing the officials to suspend play,
and this time sending the game final at the 77:25 mark with North
Georgia snagging the 1-0 victory.
North Georgia dominated with 20 shots in the contest to just seven
for USC Aiken. The Saints also led with a 4-1 margin in corner
kicks, while the officials whistled 12 fouls to each side.
Rade
Tanaskovic continued his stellar start to the season in goal,
not allowing a goal and picking up two saves in all 77:25 minutes
of action to lower his goals against average to 0.68. USCA's Andray
Charles allowed the game's only score in the loss, while tallying
seven saves.
North Georgia will have little time to regroup as the squad is set
to play host to Barry University Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. The
Bucs make their way to town following a 1-1 tie against
Carson-Newman on Friday evening.
