Pinecrest spotted Lumberton an early goal before taking control and gaining a 7-1 victory in Wednesday’s Southeastern Conference boys’ soccer tournament semifinal match.

The Patriots (14-5-2) are scheduled to meet Hoke County (17-4-2), a 3-1 winner over Scotland, at 7 p.m. on Saturday for the championship.

The visiting Pirates had three shot attempts before the Patriots got their first one. They took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute when an unmarked Jennings Johnson headed the ball into the net off a throw-in from Connor Haskins.

The Pats tied it up six minutes later. Morgan Van Camp unloaded a hard curving shot from about 30 yards away on the left wing that nestled inside the far post. Gray Anderson knocked in a cross from Taylor Morton right in front of the Pirate goal, to put the home side in front in the 24th minute.

With seven minutes remaining in the half, Hunter Oliver made the visitors pay for a weak clearance with a shot from about 20 yards out that made it 3-1. Between the 50th and 58th minutes of the match, the Patriots’ Kevin Grasso had two shots glance off the left post of the goal and had another parried over the frame in spectacular fashion by Pirate goalkeeper P.J. Monteiro.

Dane Nelsen and Hayden Little scored a minute apart around the midway point of the second half to put the match safely in the win column for the Patriots. Justin Mace added a pair of late goals.

Koron Kennedy assisted on two of the second half goals and a long ball played by Chris Potter was finished by Mace to complete the scoring.

Lumberton fell to 9-11-2 with the loss. During the regular season, Pinecrest defeated Hoke 3-1 at Pinecrest and the two teams played to a 1-1 tie a week ago in Raeford.

Contact Charlie Bergmann at cbergmann@nc.rr.com.