Soccer teams take aim at PBC titles

Both University of North Georgia (UNG) soccer teams will host Peach Belt Conference (PBC) semifinal games Nov. 4 as they seek to advance to their respective PBC championship contests.

The No. 2 seed UNG women (12-3-3) welcome No. 3 seed Flagler (7-5-5) at 5 p.m. Nov. 4 to the UNG Soccer Field after crushing No. 7 seed University of South Carolina Aiken by a 6-0 score in an Oct. 31 PBC quarterfinal in Dahlonega, Georgia. If the Nighthawks win, they will face the winner between No. 1 seed Columbus State and No. 4 Georgia College & State in the Nov. 7 PBC championship at the home field of the highest remaining seed.

Then the No. 2 seed UNG men (12-2-5) take on No. 3 seed Clayton State (7-4-7) at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4, fresh off a 2-1 double-overtime victory against No. 7 seed Georgia Southwestern in an Oct. 31 PBC quarterfinal in Dahlonega. The winner of the men's game will face the victor between No. 1 seed Flagler and No. 4 seed University of South Carolina Aiken in the Nov. 7 PBC title game at the home field of the highest remaining seed.

Each of the UNG teams has a chance to solidify positioning for the NCAA Division II tournament, as well. The women's team ranked No. 12 nationally and No. 2 in the Southeast Region last week, giving it a chance of hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. Meanwhile, the men's team was seventh in the latest NCAA Power Index Super Region 2 ranking, giving it room to move up with a strong showing this week.