PEMBROKE – Visiting USC-Aiken got a 21st minute goal from Durell Johnson and dodged a plethora of UNCP shots the rest of the way out to dash the Braves' Peach Belt Conference title hopes with a 1-0 victory over the hosts in men's college soccer action Saturday evening at the Belk Complex.

The Braves (7-7-2, 4-3-0 PBC) posted a convincing 21-3 shot advantage over the Pacers (10-5-2, 4-1-2), including a 15-0 total in the second half alone, but could not hit paydirt with several close chances. Thomas Schwer and Andrew Brown combined for nine shots to highlight the offense for UNCP, with Johnson making good on his only shot of the game.

The Braves, who could have clinched a share of the PBC title with a victory, will enter next week's PBC Tournament as the No. 5 seed and will travel to face sixth-ranked USC Upstate (11-2-2, 4-2-1) in Tuesday evening's opening round. Kickoff has been set for 7 p.m. at County University Soccer Stadium. The Braves handed the then-No. 5 Spartans their first loss of the season in Spartanburg, S.C., on Sept. 30.

“We had our opportunities to come through to claim a share of the championship, but unfortunately we could not find the back of the net,” said UNCP men's soccer head coach Mike Schaeffer. “Their goalkeeper made some great saves. We've been playing from behind all season and all we can do now is prepare for a very tough USC Upstate team.”

Aiken notched their first shot on goal in the 12th minute of play, but Felix Ogbuke's header at the near post was corralled by Pembroke goalkeeper Rich Sallin to keep the game at a scoreless deadlock. The Pacers made good on their second shot of the game in the 21st minute, however, as Johnson found a loose ball deflection and lifted it over the head of Sallin who had been pulled off his line in an attempt to nix the scoring play. Despite doubling the shot production of the Pacers, it was the Braves who took a 1-0 deficit into the intermission.

Coming out of the halftime gates with a sense of urgency, the Braves attempted to find the Equalizer and had a myriad of chances to do so. UNCP registered three shots in the stanza's first five minutes but its best chance – a close-range header by Thomas Schwer – sailed just wide. The Braves would have their best scoring chance of the game come in the 78th minute, but Max Aust's shot found the back of one his teammates and an ensuing strike by Brown was blocked.