Akyere Leads Men's Soccer Into PBC Tournament

For the second-straight game, junior Kofi Akyere lifted USC Aiken (7-7-2) out of a halftime deficit, this time scoring the equalizer in the 75th minute as the Pacers earned a tie at Shorter (4-10-1) Saturday afternoon in men's non-conference soccer action. For Akyere, the goal was his seventh in his last four games and team-leading 11th of the season.

Shorter took the lead midway through the first half when Robert Whitnell knocked home a header off of a Brian Arnold corner kick. The hosts' 1-0 lead held through the first 30 minutes of the second half.

Akyere, a Union City, Ga., native, finally broke through the defense, getting a pass from senior Kashetu Usman and finding the net to tie the contest. Akyere was coming off his first career hat trick Wednesday in a 3-2 win at Francis Marion. The junior forward has scored seven of the Pacers' last nine goals, including the last four.

With 11 goals on the season, Akyere is now second in the Peach Belt Conference and third in points with 25. His goal total is the highest by a USC Aiken player since Brad Saenz' school-record 15 markers back in 1997.

USC Aiken takes the week off before playing their season finale Saturday, October 27, at UNC Pembroke. The contest is pivotal for the Pacers as they control their own destiny in the race for a PBC regular season title. A victory over the Braves will clinch at least a share of the title as well as the top seed and the right to host the Peach Belt Tournament. USCA has never won a PBC title in men's soccer.