USCB soccer notches 1st postseason victory in program history

Karen Pimentel’s penalty kick in the 74th minute was all the scoring needed to complement a strong defensive effort, lifting USC Beaufort to its first postseason victory in women’s soccer by beating SCAD Savannah 1-0 in Saturday’s Sun Conference Tournament opener.

The Sand Sharks (10-7-2) limited SCAD to just three shots on goal over 90 minutes, advancing to a semifinal matchup against national No. 2 Keiser on Tuesday in South Florida.

USCB’s 10th victory of the season also marked the first time it has reached double digits in wins since the program was launched in 2011.

“What a great win for our program and this team,” Sand Sharks coach Ed Heberling said. “We have shown great fight all season. Hats off to SCAD as well, because they made it incredibly difficult for us.”

Though defenses controlled the match, the Sand Sharks managed to find soft spots in SCAD’s back line to attempt nine shots after halftime. The pivotal point came when Brooke Newman was able to run onto MJ Orduna’s lead pass, forcing a Bees defender to take her down in the penalty area.

Pimentel stepped up for the penalty, beating goalkeeper Ande Eich for her third goal of the season. The USCB defense took care of the rest, making sure the Bees didn’t create any quality chances.

Though goalkeeper Moa Johansson only needed to make three saves, she also came off her line to thwart a handful of potential SCAD chances. Center backs Elin Sturesson and Bridgette Noonan also provided strong defense.

This story was originally published November 6, 2016 at 4:05 PM with the headline "USCB soccer notches 1st postseason victory in program history."