Rocky Mount, NC - The North Carolina Wesleyan men's soccer team battled back from a pair of deficits to earn a thrilling 3-2 victory over William Peace on Wednesday afternoon at Scalf Field, sending the Bishops to the USA South Championship match.

The tightly contested semifinal saw Wesleyan fall behind early when the Pacers' Santiago Escobar found the net in the 35th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. However, the Bishops responded just before halftime when Tom Roantree calmly buried a penalty kick in the 46th minute to send the teams into the break level at one goal apiece.

William Peace regained the advantage early in the second half on an Ethan Gillette penalty in the 51st minute, but once again the Bishops answered. In the 65th minute, Mohamed Macalou set up Israel Monsanto for the equalizer, knotting the score at 2-2 and reigniting the Wesleyan crowd.

The decisive moment came in the 83rd minute when junior Jordi Rodriguez, a Second Team All-Conference selection, delivered the game-winner to put North Carolina Wesleyan ahead for good. The Bishops' defense, anchored by keeper Jacob Westermark and defenders Daan Post and Corentin Solitaire, held firm in the closing minutes to seal the victory.

Wesleyan outshot the Pacers 11-5 and earned five corner kicks to William Peace's two, showing their attacking intent throughout the match. Westermark finished with two saves in goal, while the Bishops overcame a physical contest that featured six yellow cards.