AIKEN, S.C. – Robert Bolender punched a game-tying penalty kick attempt past UNCP goalkeeper Ryan Hanson in the 80th minute, but the newcomer stopped Bolender's second attempt from the penalty stripe less than two minutes later, as the Braves and Pacers battled to a 1-1 stalemate Wednesday evening at Pacer Pit.

Brett Luccia scored the lone goal of the night for UNCP (2-6-2, 0-3-1 PBC) on a penalty kick attempt in the 37th minute, but the story of the night came with the two squads combining for 44 fouls and five yellow cards. The Braves got the brunt of the action from the referees, swallowing all five bookings on the night, including four in regulation. USC Aiken (1-6-2, 0-2-1) snapped a three-game series losing streak with the result, but remain winless against the Black and Gold since a 1-0 triumph on Oct. 21, 2006.

Hanson recorded one save over a full 110 minutes of action between the pipes for the Braves. Bolender also served the Pacers in goal on the night, registering four saves, including a pair of stops in overtime, to preserve the tie.

"I think we played very well in the first half, but we didn't play that well in the second half," said UNCP head coach Phil Hindson. "It was a battle – we were better in the first half and they were better in the second. We created enough chances to win the game, but we just weren't able to get the second goal. We defended very well as a team, but we have to turn games like this into victories."

Neither team was able to gain an edge through the first 35 minutes of play, but UNCP was awarded the first of what would turn out to be three golden opportunities on the night when Luccia lined up and converted a penalty kick at the 36:13 mark to give the Braves a 1-0 lead heading into the halftime break. The second half offered much of the same for both sides, but the breaks fell the Pacers way late in the period as Olender successfully converted a penalty kick attempt at 79:22, before Hanson snuffed out a second penalty kick attempt by the USC Aiken netminder at 81:41.

The Braves would have three of the four shots in the extra time, but Aiken proved up to the challenge when called upon. Martin Tomter's 96th minute header was corralled by Bolender, as was Dragan Lipovac's with 60 seconds left to play. Payne Clark's 99th minute strike sailed well high of the goal. The Pacers mustered just a 95th minute shot by Chinedu Arinze in the additional periods.

UNCP will be back in action again on Saturday when the Braves make the 405-mile trip to Americus, Ga., to battle Georgia Southwestern (1-7, 0-2) in the back half of a men's and women's PBC soccer doubleheader at the GSW Soccer Field. Kickoff for the men's game is set for 3:30 p.m.