PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- After a back-and-forth affair in the first half, Shawnee State ended up with a 4-2 win over the University of Pikeville men's soccer team on Thursday.

Kazuto Sugawara started the scoring for SSU in the 13th minute before Eric Bernabeu responded four minutes later with an equalizer. Shawnee State's next lead came in the 25th minute when Martyn Sayer finished a penalty kick, but like earlier in the game, UPIKE was there to tie things up as Hayden McLeod booted a goal off a corner kick seven minutes later.

But McLeod's strike would be all the Bears could muster as Casper Nolte slipped what would be the winning goal past UPIKE keeper Jorge Meija in the 43rd minute. After halftime, Matyas Krivan delivered some insurance in the 57th minute to give SSU a two-goal lead.

Shots were nearly even with Shawnee State posting a 15-14 lead, while shots on goal went in SSU's favor 7-4. Bernabeu took a game-high six shots and Harry Hill backed him up with three. In a physical contest played through a driving rain, SSU tallied a 13-10 advantage in fouls as well.

Meija collected three saves in the loss, while Shawnee's Brandon Pfeiffer collected two.

Full stats were not available at the time of posting.

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UPIKE travels to Asheville, N.C., on Saturday for a 3 p.m. ET kickoff at Warren Wilson.