Union Pines defeated North Moore 3-1 in a cross-county soccer clash Wednesday at Woodrow Wilhoit Stadium.

The victory was the first of the season for the homestanding Vikings, as the squad improved to 1-2, while the Mustang's record slipped to 0-2 with the loss.

By halftime Union Pines held a 2-0 lead in the tilt thanks to goals from Tristan Matthews and Adam Howard.

Matthews scored on a breaker, after receiving a through ball from Matthew Cooper, to make the score 1-0 in the 25th minute.

Late in the first half Howard scored on a one-timer off a cross by Evan Lindsay. A strong shot on goal by Tanner Mahood set up the goal with just less than three minutes remaining in the opening stanza.

Lindsay later scored on a throw-in by Matthews in the 53rd minute, as the Vikes extended their lead to 3-0.

North Moore's Pedro Ugarte prevented Union Pines from earning a clean sheet, when he broke away from a pack of Viking defenders to score on a well struck shot in the 77th minute.

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