SPARTANBURG, S.C. – University of Pikeville men's soccer were defeated 4-2 by Spartanburg Methodist in a game that featured six second-half goals.
The first 58 minutes of the match were scoreless before Spartanburg Methodist broke through in minute 59. SMC's Anthoney Bedolla, off an assist from Francesco Molinar, found the back of the net and gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
UPike responded 12 minutes later when driving deep into SMC's zone. The Pioneers committed a foul inside the 22-yard line, giving the Bears a penalty kick. Alex Pritchard made the Pioneers pay for the foul by burying the PK to level the score.
SMC retook the lead in the 79th minute. The Pioneers drove deep into the UPike end of the field, drew a corner kick, and scored shortly after. SMC's Tomas Vega got the assist on Yahir Rivera's goal that put the Pioneers up 2-1.
The Pioneers and the Bears combined for three goals in the final ten minutes of the match. Two minutes after Vega's go-ahead goal, the Pioneers took advantage of a defensive blunder by the Bears. SMC were given a penalty kick after UPike committed a foul inside their own 22-yard line. Nils Monchgesang doubled SMC's lead after scoring on the PK.
The Pioneers' two-goal lead was short lived. Juan Farkas connected with Bruno Arenal, who took a shot and found the back of the net in the 84^th minute. SMC responded with a goal just two minutes after Arenal's goal. Jahmarli Connor, off assists from Molinar and Max Charleston, scored the final goal of the match.
UPike's record dips to 4-5-1 (3-2-1 AAC) following Saturday's loss to SMC. Coach Oliver Hewitt-Fisher's team will travel up the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway Wednesday evening for a match against Midway. Kickoff between the Bears and Eagles is set for 5:00 p.m.