General 11/2/2023 9:45:00 PM Braden Mottor

With the Season on the Line, the Eagles Win the Region Semi-Final

Game Recap:
After facing each other previously in the season on September 23^rd, Trinity Baptist College and Pensacola Christian College faced off in the 2023 South Region semi-final. Hoping for a repeat home performance, the PCC Eagles came into their match with high expectations and elite preparedness. Although the Eagles quickly went down inside the first ten minutes, ultimately the Eagles found themselves with a tightly contested 4-3 win!

Just 8 minutes into the match, the TBC Eagles found themselves with a penalty kick opportunity against junior Bryce Hammond. With a PK shot right down the middle, Odanci Aj-Ndayisaba gave TBC an early 1-0 lead. While PCC dominated the possession in their attacking half of the field they could not find the back of the net… until the 24^th minute. With a big cross from junior Niwe Mugeni, the ball found the foot of Chase Hawkins just inside the goalie box, calm and poised Hawkins rifled a shot to the top corner over the outstretched hand of the TBC goalie effectively tying the match 1-1. Just over one minute later, Niwe Mugeni created his own chance off a steal from a TBC defender and netted his seventh goal of the season and his first career postseason goal to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead 26 minutes into the match. Unfortunately, five minutes later TBC once again found the back of the net knotting the match back at two goals a piece with 15 minutes left in the first half. Through sustained pressure, the Eagles found a corner-kick opportunity in the 39^th minute of the match. Executing their play to perfection, captain Dakotah Barchus found himself just outside the goalie box with nothing but daylight in front of him. Firing a hard, low shot toward the net the ball found the back of the net giving the Eagles the lead just before the end of the half.

After a 27-minute stalemate in the second half, Trinity Baptist's Odanci Aj-Ndayisaba found the net for the second time tonight tying the match at 3-3 with just 18 minutes remaining. With the threat of overtime looming, Giovanni Pauliello sent a long through ball to freshman Nicholas Clark who then crossed the ball into the box, finding the wide-open foot of Lourenco Goncalves who scored his first goal of the game and the Eagles' fourth goal of the night! With this goal, the Eagles locked down defensively and held TBC scoreless for the last 12 minutes of the match. Ultimately, the Eagles pulled out the 4-3 victory with goals coming from four different players and assists from four players as well!

What's Next:
Saturday at 10:00 AM CT, the Eagles will face off against the Bob Jones University Bruins for the 2023 South Region championship. But this match is more than just a region championship… with only six teams entering the 2023 NCCAA National Tournament, the winner of this match will achieve the South Region Champion Title, but also solidify their trip to Kissimmee, FL for the National Tournament!

If you would like to keep up with the Eagles' postseason, follow @eaglespccmsoc on Instagram. For complete coverage of all PCC Eagles teams, events, and schedules, follow @eaglespcc on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Players Mentioned

#1 Bryce Hammond: GK; 6' 0"; Junior

#3 Niwe Mugeni: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#8 Chase Hawkins: MF; 6' 1"; Junior

#9 Lourenco Goncalves: F; 6' 2"; Junior

#15 Giovanni Pauliello: MF; 5' 7"; Junior

#20 Nicholas Clark: F; 5' 7"; Freshman

#22 Dakotah Barchus: MF; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#1 Bryce Hammond
: 6' 0"; Junior
: GK

#3 Niwe Mugeni
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#8 Chase Hawkins
: 6' 1"; Junior
: MF

#9 Lourenco Goncalves
: 6' 2"; Junior
: F

#15 Giovanni Pauliello
: 5' 7"; Junior
: MF

#20 Nicholas Clark
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: F

#22 Dakotah Barchus
: 6' 3"; Junior
: MF