BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – The Sand Shark soccer team earned their fourth consecutive victory on Sunday afternoon, defeating Palm Beach Atlantic 2-1. USCB opened the scoring early, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening five minutes before securing the game-winning goal from Sophia Willis in the second half.

With the win, USCB improves to a perfect 4-0 on the season, along with three wins at home.

"Today we had a tough time getting in behind a tough opponent, 
but stayed the course through the second half and got the result"
said head coach Gary Boughton.

The Sand Sharks netted two goals in the match, one by Jasiah Pack, her fourth of the season, and the other by Sophia Willis, also her fourth. Both goals were assisted by Kate James and Savanna Page.


"It's hard to score goals in this game, but if we can replicate the chances we're creating over and over, we'll see some of those chances in the back of the net" stated Boughton.

Pack wasted no time putting the Sand Sharks on the board, scoring just five minutes into the match. After USCB regained possession deep in their own half, a pass was sent forward to Pack, who gained control and finished the play with a strike to the back of the net for an early 1-0 lead.

USCB held that advantage until the 29th minute, when Abigail Longstaff of Palm Beach Atlantic scored from distance to level the match at 1-1. The score remained tied heading into halftime.

Early in the second half, USCB nearly regained the lead, but a shot bounced off the top crossbar, keeping the game even.

In the 67th minute, the Sand Sharks broke the tie. After a failed clearance attempt by Palm Beach Atlantic due to the Sand Shark pressure, Page kept the ball alive in the offensive zone and found Willis, who sent the shot home for a 2-1 lead.

USCB had a chance to extend the lead from a penalty spot, but Brooke Delzatto, the Sailfish goalkeeper, made a key save. The Sand Sharks had another opportunity shortly after, but the shot struck the post.

In the final minutes, USCB goalkeeper Graysen Asher came up with her final save of the match to preserve the win and close out the 2-1 victory.