After starting the season with six straight losses in non-league play, the Union Pines soccer team improved to 2-0 in 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference action Wednesday with a 2-1 win over the Overhills Jaguars in Spring Lake.

“We finally played a competitive, fairly complete match,” said head coach Michael Mibb, whose Viking boys’ squad won its second match of the week, improving to 2-6 on the season with the victory.

“Overhills made us play a lot of defense in the first 20 minutes of the match, with our two central midfielders being ineffective. But gradually we began to establish some control which culminated in our first goal.”

That goal came in the 26th minute of the match as junior forward Rafael Pastrana maintained a nice possession before finding junior outside midfielder Brennan Bullock streaking into Overhills penalty area for the finish.

After one half of play the score remained 1-0 in favor of Union Pines

The second half saw Overhills (2-5, 1-1 CFVC) apply more pressure up top. The result was a Jaguar equalizer that they attained at the 51-minute mark.

Senior forward Adam Howard tallied the game-winning goal 11 minutes later after stealing the ball from an Overhills defender near the top of its penalty area. From there the senior striker was able to penetrate past the Jags’ back line for a good quality finish.

“Tonight the young men put in a good quality match overall,” said Mibb. “The defense bent a few time times but did not break. The offense was often dangerous and caused Overhills real trouble numerous times.

“Next week will determine how much we have improved as we host league foes Gray’s Creek Monday and Southern Lee Wednesday.”

Monday’s CFVC clash with Gray’s Creek is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on the pitch at Woodrow Wilhoit Stadium.