The Pine Needle

By Dan Kelly
Senior Staff Writer

UNCP Soccer has ended the regular season on a four-game win streak with three straight wins in the Peach Belt to propel them to the #2 seed in the conference tournament.

The Braves most recent victories were against USC Aiken and Francis Marion University, both were 2-0. The lone home game during the streak was against conference rival Lander with UNCP winning a tight 2-1 game. UNCP also won an overtime game against Queens University 1-0.

The recent victories against USC Aiken and Francis Marion University were against the bottom two teams in the conference but were still considered dangerous opponents by Head Coach Mike Schaffer.

The season-ending game against USC Aiken saw the Braves win 2-0 with the first goal coming in the 50 th minute by D Bjorn Beck with the assist by D Zach Rowell. UNCP scored the finishing goal in the 55 th minute by F John Cooper.

The match against Francis Marion College was scoreless until the 30 th minute with a goal by F Tuncay Dilek with the assist by Midfielders Jose Sanchez and Miguel Ferrer. The Braves controlled the tempo of play, but didn’t put the match away until a goal in the 79 th minute by D Bjorn Beck with a second assist by M Miguel Ferrer.

The real turning point for the Braves in the PBC this season came against their perennial rivals, Lander University.

“Over the years that match has really developed where the two teams have really developed a dislike for each other,” Coach Schaffer said.

The match was incredibly physical throughout, but was broken open in the 18 th minute by F Tuncay Dilek with the assist by F John Cooper. The Braves remained under control of the match through their second goal of the game by F Moses Dimmock and looked to have a firm grasp on the remainder of the match.

The UNCP momentum was broken in the 67 th minute when F John Cooper was given was given his 2 nd yellow card, leaving the Braves shorthanded for the remaining portion of the game. Lander player Luke Ibbetson further applied the pressure with a goal in the 70th minute.

The Braves, though, were able to endure the Lander assault for the remaining 20 minutes to secure their first PBC win of the year, 2-1.

Another important game was against NCAA contender Queens University of Charlotte. UNCP was able to survive eight shots on goal by Queens but were able to pull out a victory by an unassisted header by F Tuncay Dilek in the 100 th minute.

With the completion of the regular season, the Braves have an overall record of 12-3-3 and a conference record of 3-1-2.

“I’m really pleased with what this team (has) accomplished,” Coach Schaffer said.

Coach Schaffer also takes a great deal of pride of the new players that replaced key players from the great 2004 Braves, who went on to reach the NCAA Division II National Semifinals. The young team now finds itself in serious contention for one of the three NCAA playoff spots given to this region.

Also, for the third time this season, a UNCP player has become the player of the week in the Peach Belt. Foreword Tuncay Dilek became the PBC Player of the Week on October 24 for his game-winning goal against Queens and his goal in the game against Lander University.