Box Score
CENTRAL, S.C. – A converted penalty kick from Alejandro Sanchez proved to be the difference as Southern Wesleyan escaped with a 2-1 win over Columbia International on Wednesday night.
The Warriors (4-1) took the lead in the first half as Ivan Malagon hit a beautiful strike from 25-yards out on a half-volley as the ball was deflected back out off a corner kick. Malagon was standing and waiting and unloaded on the ball for his third goal of the season.
The Rams (5-2) found the equalizer in the 56th minute as Daniel Mallard knocked one in from long range over the head of SWU keeper Ruben Rodriguez. Just five minutes later the Warriors caught a break after a CIU handball in their own box gave the Warriors a penalty kick. Sanchez stepped up and buried it to give the Warriors the lead and eventually the win. With the goal Sanchez takes the team lead with four goals on the season.
The match stayed close throughout as neither side was able to gain the upper hand. The Warriors took more shots at 14 to nine for the Rams, but most of those came from long range. Ironically, CIU had a few chances late to tie the score from long range but were just off line.
CIU's Stephen Replogle made four saves in goal while his counterpart, Rodriguez, needed just one save to pick up the win and improve to 4-1 in goal this season.
The Warriors will be back in action on Saturday as they open Conference Carolinas play at Pfeiffer at 4 p.m.
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