Braves send senior out with PBC victory

By Jonathan Bym
Assistant Sports Editor

October 25, 2012

Photo by Hillary Akers

Junior Martin Tomter battles with an opposing player for possession of the ball earlier this season. Tomter scored both of the Braves' goals in a 2-0 victory over PBC foe Young Harris on Oct. 20.

After a quiet first half, both teams played a much more physical second half as the men's soccer team, defeated the Peach Belt Conference's newest team, Young Harris, at the Varsity Grounds on Oct. 20.

The Black and Gold received two second half goals from junior Martin Tomter for his seventh and eighth goals of the season.

After nine total fouls were called in the first half, both teams combined for 29 fouls and seven yellow cards in the second half.

Early in the game, the Braves started putting shots on goal as Matt MacDougall's shot was saved by the Young Harris goalkeeper Wezly Barnard.

Ryan Hanson saved all three shots sent on goal in the first half as he stopped shots in the 19th, 39th and 45th minutes.

From the 32nd to the 41st minute, the Black and Gold sent three toward the goal that just missed the mark. Sean Hoek, Sam Miles and Rico Laitinen were the Braves that took the shots.

Both teams went into the half tied at zero as the Black and Gold took six to the Mountain Lions five.

To start the second half, Miles sent back-to-back shots that went high of goal.

In the 52nd minute, Tomter's shot was blocked. He came back three minutes later to find the back of the net as he took a shot off a pass from Hoek in the box.

UNCP posted only two more shots on goal the rest of the game as seven minutes after the Tomter goal, MacDougall put a shot that was saved by Barnard once again. Then, 20 minutes later Tomter was able to maneuver past the Young Harris defense to take a shot on goal that went to the right side and went past the goalie.

For the final 10 minutes of the game, the Braves proceeded to take more shots, but none was able to find their way on the goal.

Hanson finished the game with four saves on the day as Bernard recorded two.

This was the final home game for the Braves this season as three seniors played their final home game for the Black and Gold. Todd May, Michael Smith and Hoek were the three seniors rounding out their UNCP careers.

Looking forward