Two second-half goals propelled a short-handed Union Pines soccer team to a key 3-1 win over conference foe Gray's Creek on Senior Night Wednesday at Wilhoit Stadium.

The win kept the Vikes tied atop the Cape Fear Valley conference standings despite the fact that the team was missing several key players.

The Vikes played the Bears (3-4, 9-6-1) without starters Jessie Wilson and Kacey Graner. Wilson, a freshman middle-fullback, was serving the third of a four-game red card suspension, while Graner, who scored goals in each of the Vikings last four matches, was out due to a mandatory school band trip. The junior midfielder has seven goals and four assists on the year.

Also out for the game, due to illness, was part-time starter and primary reserve Claudia Quiros, a junior forward/midfielder.

A third starter, Carly Lively, would leave the game late in the first half with an apparent back injury.

Three players who were definitely not missing for the Lady Vikings were lone senior Candice Hogan, junior Kayla Lively and forward Anna Pilson. Pilson, who entered the match on a four-game assist streak, scored twice and had an assist. Lively added two assists and Hogan made a handful of extraordinary defensive efforts to thwart Bear scoring threats.

After the game, an emotional Hogan spoke about the camaraderie of the 2009 Lady Vikings.

"I just love everybody on this team," a tearful Hogan said. "We play so well and our chemistry is unbelievable. I don't think any other team can say they have the type of solidarity we do. Every single girl on the team just means so much to every other girl."

Lively and Pilson would hook up early, giving Union Pines a 1-0 lead. In the sixth minute, Lively scooted a lead pass from the middle of the field to Pilson who powered a one-timer off a half volley from 30 yards out through the Bears keeper and into the back of the net.

"To get this win with so many critical parts of our team out is a giant reassurance." Lively said. "Actually we are really good about getting fired up and giving it our all when things get tough. This one was really a big morale booster."

Gray's Creek tied the score midway through the half when Jennifer Floyd converted a penalty kick.

Less than six minutes later Vike starting center-forward Carly Lively went down. The freshman, who entered the game as Union Pines' leading scorer with nine goals, did not return.

Pilson broke the 1-all tie with a goal in the 57th minute. The goal came off a free kick, something she had been working hard on in practice.

"Actually the kick was from the exact spot that we had worked from," Pilson said, "and I saw the space so I placed the ball in the top right corner."

Pilson now leads the team in goals (10) and assists (11), as she continued her consistently (season-long) high level of play during the contest. In her last five games the junior has seven assists and five goals.

Ellie Reynolds secured the win when she scored off a Pilson corner kick with 15 minutes remaining in the game.

While Gray's Creek launched spirited attacks after each of the Vikes' second half goals, getting off nine shots in the final stanza, Union Pines' defense simply delivered a determined effort. Led by Hogan and junior fullback Taylor Smith, the Vikings managed to keep Gray's Creek off the scoreboard. Keeper Summer Hennings had her second straight clutch performance in goal for Union Pines tallying 12 saves.

"Sometimes it takes us a while to kick it into gear," Hogan said, "but when we do we are unstoppable. We seem to take it to another level when we face adversity and I think tonight showed that especially in the way we won while missing so many people. Our potential is unlimited; this team looks for the challenges, we thrive on them."

With the victory, Union Pines (11-2 overall) remains in a tie with Western Harnett for first in the CFV at 9-1. Since "The Battle of the Pines" match against Pinecrest has been canceled (due to a conference-remake conflict for the Patriots), the Lady Vikes will have the remainder of the week to rest and recover. Union Pines will be back in conference action Monday, in Angier, when they battle the Harnett Central Trojans (5-3-2 CFV, 6-5-2 overall.) Game time is 7 p.m.

Contact F.W. Manning II at 639-5481 or by e-mail at fwm2@nc.rr.com