WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Presbyterian College men's soccer team used a pair of Josh Carter (Anchorage, Alaska) goals to earn its first-ever win over a ranked Division I opponent on Friday night as the Blue Hose toppled the No. 24 UNC Wilmington Seahawks in a road battle, 2-1.
PC improves to 2-0 for the first time since 2006 and stay in Wilmington to face Elon on Sunday at 1 p.m. UNC Wilmington moves to 1-2.
Carter followed up a two-goal performance against USC Upstate last week with another seven days later against the Seahawks. The forward broke a 1-1 tie in the 78th minute, shortly after a UNC Wilmington corner kick. With the ball safely away from the PC end, the counter-attack led the Blue Hose to the front of the Wilmington net. Carter cut back to the right side at the top of the penalty area and fired a low shot past goalkeeper Sean Melvin for the game-winner.
The PC defense allowed only one more shot on goal for the rest of the match, a challenge that Tyler Beadle (Douglasville, Ga.) handled to ensure the victory. Beadle stopped five shots on the night.
UNC Wilmington struck first when David Sizemore finished a corner kick with a shot from the top of the penalty area to put the Seahawks ahead in the fourth minute.
The home side's lead did not last long, however, as Carter pulled the Blue Hose even in the 21st minute on the team's first shot of the night. The junior lined up for a free kick 27 yards away and laced the ball into the net, tying the game and snapping a Wilmington shutout streak of 153:01. The goal marked Carter's third of the season.
Matthew McManis (Greenwood, S.C.) directed a header shot on net in the 31st minute to force a Melvin save and keep the pressure on. Beadle made three saves in the first half on the other end of the pitch.
Neither team threatened much for the first 30 minutes of the second half. A flurry came when Carter tested Melvin in the 76th minute shortly before another Beadle save. PC's second goal followed less than two minutes later.
The Seahawks outshot PC by a total of 18-6 on the night and enjoyed a 7-2 corner kick advantage. McManis and Brett Godwin (Suwanee, Ga.) played all 90 minutes on the back line to help halt the Wilmington attack.
