KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The No. 6 Roberts Wesleyan men's soccer team fought off an early two goal deficit in the first game of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association Championships, coming back to defeat No. 9 Piedmont International, 5-3.
 
Senior midfielder Terrell Spencer had the game-winning goal in the 67th minute to put the Redhawks up 4-3. Assisting on the goal was Hunter Salisbury. Johanz Tusiime added an insurance goal on a penalty kick in the 85th minute to give Roberts a two goal cushion in the high scoring match.
 
The first three goals of the game for the Redhawks came from unlikely individuals in Barrington Smith and Jeremiah Ochepo who both spent the season on the defensive side of the field. Their outburst on offense couldn't have come at a more opportune time with the Redhawks trailing 2-0 in the first match of pool play in the NCCAA Championships.
 
Smith's goal at the 30 min mark of the first half gave Roberts hope to climb back into the game. A long ball played by Dan Reger was brought down by Alex Perez Vega and passed over to Smith who finished the goal.
 
Just four minutes later Ochepo headed in a goal off a Perez Vega corner kick. Roberts had 11 total corner kicks to seven for Piedmont.
 
After a 2-2 tie at the half, Smith gave Roberts its first lead of the game with a goal at the 52:16 minute mark. The Bruins answered to tie the match at three all, but just 30 seconds after their goal Spencer netted the game winner.
 
Joe McNulty played in net for Roberts and made four saves on the day.
 
The Redhawks will continue in pool play on Wednesday taking on No. 1 seed, Mid-America Christian University. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET.