CARY, N.C.— The Averett University men's soccer team traveled to Cary, North Carolina, on Sunday to take on William Peace University in conference action and left with a 3-2 victory. Sophomore Daniel Surley registered the game winning goal in the 64th minute of play.

Averett (3-5-2, 2-2-1 USA South) came out on the attack from the opening whistle and it showed as they led in shots (7-6) and shots on goal (4-2) at the end of the first half. Throughout the first half, Averett created multiple quality scoring opportunities. In the 30th minute of play, Surley got his head on the end of a cross from the far sideline, but his shot was right at Christian Ortiz.

Averett continued to plug away and would find the back of the net twice in the last five minutes of the opening period. Junior David Cuperman, in the 40th minute, dribbled the ball down the far sideline and beat a couple of Pacer defenders before finding an unmarked junior Huso Dukic by the penalty spot. The Jacksonville, Fla. native one-timed his strike inside the near post to give his team the 1-0 lead. The Cougars stayed on the attack and were again rewarded four minutes later. Freshman Nademe Tokhli beat a Pacer defender on the far sideline and then struck a beautiful right footed shot from 30 yards out over Christian Ortiz and into the back of the net for his first goal of his collegiate career. This tally extended the Averett lead to 2-0 where it would stand at the halftime break.

It did not take long for William Peace (5-5-1, 1-3-1 USA South) to find the scoreboard out of the halftime break as they struck twine just 30 seconds into the second half. A failed clearance fell to Seth Cranford who blasted his shot from 25 yards out into the top left corner of the net to cut the Cougar lead to 2-1.

After this, both teams would create a couple of chances on net, but William Peace was the side who capitalized and brought the game level in the 63rd minute. Roben Santiago received a throw in near the corner flag on the near sideline and then served a ball to the far post where Chris Deleon was there to knock it in to tie the game at two.

Averett responded quickly and in a defiant manner, regaining their lead just a minute later. Dukic ran onto a through ball going towards the corner flag on the far side of the field. The midfielder served a ball to the corner of the 6-yard box where Surley was waiting to tap it in to give Averett the 3-2 lead.

For the duration of the match, the Averett defense held William Peace to just one shot on goal which occurred in the last minute of play. The Pacers were sending more numbers forward in hopes of finding the equalizer. In the 90th minute, a failed Averett clearance eventually found the foot of Isaac Kruger inside the 18-yard box. With two seconds left on the clock he struck his shot on net, but freshman goalkeeper Marius Olavesen made a huge save to preserve the 3-2 victory for the Cougars.

Averett returns to the pitch on Wednesday, Oct. 4, when its plays host to N.C. Wesleyan College as a part of its Gold Rush Game. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.