GREENWOOD – Sean Hoek scored his second goal of the game in the 77th minute Tuesday night to lead the sixth-seeded UNC Pembroke men's soccer team to a 2-1 quarterfinal round victory over third-seeded Lander in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament held at the Jeff May Complex.
UNCP improves to 11-4-2 and will face the winner of No. 2 Montevallo/No. 7 Francis Marion at 7 p.m. Friday at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga. The championship game is set for 3:30 p.m., Sunday. Lander drops to 8-7-2 overall and must wait to see if it earns an at-large berth into the Southeast Regional Tournament.
Lander, which defeated the Braves, 1-0 in double-overtime last Saturday, took a quick 1-0 lead at 4:07 when Brett Jankouskas took a rebound from his own blocked free kick and fired it into the back of the net for his 10th goal of the season.
The Braves tied the game at 1-1 when Hoek scored his first goal from short range on an assist from Sam Miles at 59:26.
Hoek's game-winner was a header in front of the goal on an assist from Payne Clark at 77:49.
UNCP outshot Lander, 13-9, and led in corner kicks, 8-2.
Lander goalkeeper Matthew Atkinson and the Braves' Ryan Hanson both had five saves.