EVANS, Ga. – For the fourth year in a row, the Flagler College Saints and the University of Montevallo Falcons met in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. Coming into Friday's matchup, Montevallo held a 2-1 advantage over Flagler. Unfortunately for the Saints, Montevallo was able to win for the third time in four years and advance to the finals with a 2-1 victory.
The first half was a defensive struggle. Combined, the two teams were only able to manage six total shots and no goals were put on the board.
In the second half, the Falcons struck quickly as senior captain, and newly named All-Conference First Team player, Gary O'Neill fired on into the back of the net. The score came off a free kick from Jeffrey Hessenberger.
The 1-0 lead would quickly double as Hessenberger would again connect with O'Neill, this time on a corner kick. Hessenberger executed the perfect cross and O'Neill was able to get a head on it and sneak the ball in the right corner of the goal.
The tallies were O'Neill's third and fourth goals of the season.
Flagler cut the lead in half in the 71st minute when Zach Shanahan scored his ninth goal of the year after a nice cross by Stephen Pratt.
The Saints would be unable to get any closer, and the Falcons won and will return the finals where they will defend their 2012 PBC Championship against Francis Marion.
Montevallo outshot Flagler eight to seven and had three corner kicks to Flagler's two.
