ROCK HILL, S.C. – From the opening goal of the game by freshman Johannus Cuarezma at the 4:45 mark, the UNC Pembroke men's soccer team controlled the pace of the contest with Brevard and included an additional two scores in the second half to continue its perfect start to the season with a 3-0 victory on Sunday evening in Rock Hill, S.C.
With the win, the Braves (2-0-0) remain undefeated in the series with Brevard (0-2-0) who suffered their second loss of the season.
Newcomer Tom Potter dished his pass to Izzy Evans from the middle of the box and Evans caught Cuarezma with a high chip from the right side to start the early lead for the Braves as Cuarezma sent his shot behind Brevard's keeper. The score put the Black and Gold ahead for the remainder of the game and send the squad into halftime with the 1-0 lead.
At the start of the 72nd minute, Potter registered his second goal of the season as he rebounded his own shot off a blocked penalty kick. Nearly 14 minutes later, Branco Theis seized the final goal of the contest with a right-side shot from freshman Jordan Walshaw at the 85:05 mark to crush the hopes of the Tornados for a comeback.
"Brevard played us very hard in the first half and I think the guys responded very well in the second half," said UNCP head coach Phil Hindson. "In the second half, I think we did an extremely good job keeping the ball, possessing it and being patient, and it paid off for us."
The Braves logged an 8-6 shot advantage after the first half and out-shot Brevard by three in the second stanza. Sophomore Kenneth Perkinson grabbed six saves through his 90 minutes in goal and posted his second shutout of the season, while Brevard's Heath Turner logged five saves and suffered his first loss between the posts.
Theis charted four of the Braves' 16 total shots, while Potter added three and Walshaw along with Josh Phelps tallied two each. Brevard had four players with two shots apiece.
The Braves will make the short two-hour trip up US-74 on Wednesday to face No. 22 Wingate (1-0-1) in a 7 p.m. matchup at WU Soccer Field in Wingate.
