BLUFFTON, S.C. – Hayley Pina scored a pair of second-half goals to break her own single-season program records for goals and points, but the USCB women's soccer team's late rally fell short in a 3-2 loss to visiting Thomas on Saturday at Fin Land Field.

The Night Hawks scored twice in a span of less than five minutes in the second half to build a 3-1 advantage and held on as the Sand Sharks pushed forward in the final minutes of the pivotal Sun Conference contest. 

"We showed great fight today, but it came too late and was just not enough to get a result," USCB coach Ed Heberling said. "We have shown strong will this season and fought back in numerous matches. The intensity in the last 15 minutes was unequaled this season."

The teams were deadlocked until the 41st minute, when Milene Anstett slipped a pass through to Kayla Folse, who finished to give the Night Hawks a 1-0 lead. The Sand Sharks evened the match in the 57th minute, as Pina finished an assist from MJ Orduna to match her own school record with her ninth goal of the season.

Thomas answered less than three minutes later, when Olivia Taylor bent a free kick from the left flank inside the back post, and Taylor assisted on Folse's second goal of the afternoon a little more than four minutes later for a 3-1 lead.

Trailing by two with 12 minutes to play, the Sand Sharks adjusted their formation to send an extra player forward and immediately increased the pressure on Thomas' defense. Hanna Crist served a ball into the box that Pina was able to finish to give USCB new life in the 81st minute. The Sand Sharks produced several more chances in the waning minutes but could not produce the equalizer. 

The Sand Sharks remain in fifth place in the Sun Conference standings with two matches remaining in the regular season. USCB will host Warner at 3 p.m. Tuesday and travel to Webber International at 3 p.m. Friday, and the Sand Sharks are in good position to make the seven-team Sun Conference Tournament and potentially could host a quarterfinal match with two victories.

"I am happy with our determination and look forward to our team continuing to improve over the next two matches," Heberling said. "We need to to have the same intensity early in the match and capitalize on our opportunities."

BOJANGLES' PLAYER OF THE GAME
Hayley Pina
Junior • Forward • Culver City, Calif.

With two goals Saturday, Pina broke her own single-season program records for goals (10) and points (24), adding to her career-record totals for goals (22), assists (13) and points (57). Pina has scored five of the Sand Sharks' last six goals and assisted on the other. "Hayley has been playing so well these last few games and has carried the team offensively," Heberling said. "I am proud of Hayley for setting all these records."