NCWC and Greensboro advance to USA South Championship

Rocky Mount, NC - In Friday's USA South Tournament semifinal action, the host Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan and second-seeded Pride of Greensboro College each advanced by 1-0 scores in their respective matches.  The two squads will face off in Saturday's championship match to determine the USA South's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Friday's first game saw Greensboro goalie Matt Brown record eight saves on 17 shots by Christopher Newport.  The Pride got a late goal by Robert Fricke at 72:58 en route to the 1-0 victory.  Richard Engel was credited with an assist on the score.

The second game saw more of the same defensive prowess with Methodist goalie Jeremy Belnap notching eight saves on 18 shots by the Bishops. 

It would be a lone Wesleyan goal just eight minutes into the game that proved to be the gamewinner.  Salvador Benitez, Jr. blasted home a one-timer off of a Philipp Lyding cross to put NCWC on top for good. 

Bishop goalie Jeff Johnson recorded only two saves, but the latter of the two was a game-saver.  Johnson secured the shutout and victory when he barely deflected a Kevin Gray attempt at the tie with just minutes left in regulation.  The win was Wesleyan's 10th straight.

Saturday's championship match is slated for 2:00 p.m. at Wesleyan's Scalf Field.