Final Four PBC Men’s Soccer Teams Square Off in Evans

AUGUSTA, GA – The field for the final four teams in the PBC Tournament has been set and, for the first time ever, the games will be played on a neutral field. The 2008 PBC Championships come to Evans, Ga., and Blanchard Woods Park this weekend with two semifinal matches beginning at 5:30 on Friday and culminating with the tournament championship game at 3:30 on Sunday.

Friday night’s first matchup pits seventh-seeded and tournament upset specialists USC Aiken against third-seeded Lander. The Pacers made a largely forgettable season vanish in just one night as they upset second-seeded Clayton State in the first round of the tournament on Tuesday in Morrow, Ga. That win was only the second time in conference history a #7 seed has beaten a #2 seed; the last time was when, ironically, #7 USCA beat #2 North Florida back in 2002. Friday’s match with Lander is a replay of the 2006 championship game where USC Aiken, making their only championship game appearance, fell to the Bearcats 1-0.

USC Aiken will look to 2007 PBC co-Player of the Year Kofi Akyere for scoring. Akyere made the difficult transition from forward to midfield this season but seems to be growing into the role as he has taken over the team lead in goals with seven after a late-season barrage. The Pacers Troy Watson was the hero on Tuesday as he scored the first goal in regulation and then provided the final penalty kick in the shootout against Clayton State.

Lander will be looking for a trip to their 12th PBC Tournament final and third in a row when they take the field on Friday. The Bearcats struggled at the end of the season, dropping their final two games before beating Georgia Southwestern 5-0 in the first round of the tournament on Tuesday. The Bearcats have perhaps the best 1-2 scoring combination in the Peach Belt with forwards Aaron Brittain and Adam Arthur up front. Brittain currently leads the PBC in points with 29 and is second in goals scored with 12. Arthur is third in overall points and third in goals with nine. As a team, Lander leads the PBC with most goals scored, 42, and the fewest goals allowed 16.

After being picked fifth in the preseason coaches’ poll, the Francis Marion Patriots came out of nowhere to win the regular-season championship and earn the top seed for the tournament. With that seed came a first-round bye and the Patriots will have had six days of rest when they take the field on Friday night. The Patriots come in as the hottest team in the league with a seven-game winnings streak and have not lost a match since Sept. 16. On offense, the Patriots will look to their dynamite sophomore duo of forward Juan Rivas and midfielder Ivan Juric. Rivas leads the team with eight goals on the season, including two last Saturday as FMU captured the regular-season title with a 3-1 win over Lander. Juric adds seven goals and seven assists. As a team, the Patriots are just one goal behind Lander in total scored and lead the league in assists.

North Georgia returns to the semifinals for the third time in four years and make their second straight appearance after knocking off UNC Pembroke 1-0 on Tuesday. The Saints’ Terry Gibbs will lead the attack with eight goals scored on the season but will need support from other players such as Avram Allen, who scored the lone goal against UNCP. Freshman goalkeeper Rade Tanaskovic leads the PBC in saves. When the two teams met during the regular season, Lander came away with a 2-0 win, although that game was played on the Bearcats home field.

The games on Friday and Sunday are only a part of the soccer celebration at Blanchard Woods over the weekend. On Saturday, the Peach Belt will host the community engagement event Breakfast With the Champions which gives local youth soccer players the chance to interact with collegiate student-athletes. The program will feature a free breakfast and mini-clinic for soccer players age 7-12. The event begins at 9:30 am on Saturday at Blanchard Woods and is open to all children ages 7-12 and is free. Parents can register their kids here or at the site on Saturday.