GREENSBORO, N.C. – Guilford College’s Eric Hayes (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) made a key save on a William Peace University penalty kick in the 87th minute to preserve a Wednesday evening victory, 2-1.
The first 22 minutes of the contest featured all the scoring in the contest, in spite of a high shot count where Guilford held the advantage, 35-14. On a counterattack in the eighth minute, Corey McDonough lifted the Quaker offense with a long through-ball up the middle of the field to Christian Torres (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford), who drew Tanielu Riley out of the six-yard box and booted to the ball inside the right side of the goal for the game’s first score.
Guilford fired three more shots in the next ten minutes, but William Peace countered as Dylan Shields fed Ja’Rod Randolph from the left side to tie the score. The Quakers would respond quickly in the 22nd minute as Guilford capitalized on a wild sequence of shots after Omar Solis’ shot was blocked. Mark Dandanell fired a shot that was saved by the Pacer back line that deflected towards Jake Elsey standing in front of the goal, who booted the rebound into the net to reclaim the lead.
Both teams traded offensive chances throughout the second half, where the Quakers outshot the Pacers, 19-9. William Peace drew a foul inside the Quaker defensive 18-yard box to draw a penalty kick in the 87th minute. Luis Reyes-Gomes fired a low, skipping shot to his right into a diving Hayes, who made the save to keep the Quakers ahead.
The Quakers and Pacers were level on corner kicks, 3-3. The Quakers held a large advantage on total fouls, 19-4, include 12 in the second half.
Hayes made two saves in the net for the Quakers. Riley stopped ten shots for the Pacers.
The Quakers return home Saturday for the first ever contest with Laurel University at 1 p.m. inside Appenzeller Field at Armfield Athletic Center.