UNC Pembroke Rally Stuns Mars Hill in NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - UNC Pembroke overcame a late deficit with two goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation and completed the comeback in overtime for a 3-2 victory over Mars Hill in the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship First Round.

Martin Tomter's goal off a long-cross from Michael Smith in the second minute of overtime capped the comeback and sent the Braves to the second round. Alex Mullen and Stephen Bivens scored goals for the Lions, while Felipe Ferraro and Gregg Munn each added assists. Daniel Bogut also scored for UNC Pembroke. The Braves advance to face Flagler at Saints Field on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Mars Hill concludes its season 14-3-3.

Mullen got the Lions on the board first in the 35th-minute. Ferraro sent a high-feed across the box, which Mullen redirected into the net on header. The goal was the sophomore's tenth of the season. That was all the scoring the first half would see. MHC outshot the Braves 7-2 in the half.

Mars Hill took a 2-0 lead in the 50th-minute on Bivens' goal. The senior took a cross from Munn at the near post and found the top right corner of the net for his 11th-goal of the season.

The Braves comeback began in the 79th-minute when a cross in front went off a Lion defender into the back of the net to cut the score to 2-1. Bogut knocked in a rebound just six minutes later to tie the score and send the game to overtime. The Braves held a 10-9 advantage in shots on goal in the second half.

Tomter's goal in the 92nd-minute was his ninth of the season and sent the Braves to the NCAA Tournament Second Round.

Mars Hill outshot UNC Pembroke 17-14, while the Braves held an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks. Zac Scott made three saves for MHC, while Ryan Hanson stopped six shots for the Braves.

- Mars Hill media relations