DAHLONEGA, Ga. | The University of North Georgia scored two first-half goals and then hold off a late challenge from Young Harris College en route to a 3-2 Peach Belt Conference men's soccer victory over its cross-mountain rival Wednesday (Sept. 28) evening at the UNG Soccer Complex.

With the win in the Battle of Blood Mountain series, the Nighthawks improved to 5-5-0 overall and to 2-0-0 in the Peach Belt while the Mountain Lions slipped to 2-5-0 and 1-2-0. Young Harris returns to action Saturday (Oct. 1) when they host the University of South Carolina Aiken in a 3:30 p.m. PBC  match at the YHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field. It will also be Youth Day where all youth who come to their match in their jersey will be admitted to the match for free.

North Georgia took the 1-0 lead at the 28:15 mark on Ivan Acimovic's header off Carl Ludwig Eriksson's free kick. It was Acimovic's fourth strike of the season. The Nighthawks added another goal 10 minutes later as Michael Akin scored his third goal of the year off a Matt Shaftoe touch.

Young Harris was able to get one back 55 seconds before halftime on Ramin Varnhorn's header, his first of the 2016 campaign. Johnny Denton sent the ball in to Marco Micaletto, who crossed to Varnhorn, who headed the ball into the right corner of the net.

The Mountain Lions started the second half strong as they took the first seven shots; however, North Georgia took a 3-1 lead at the 71:28 mark as Ludwig Eriksson scored off a cross from William Pettersson.

Young Harris got the goal back five minutes later. Off a corner kick, Varnhorn scored his second goal of the match as took the last of three shots taken by the Mountain Lions. Varnhorn knocked in the rebound off a Josh Poole shot that the UNG goalkeeper couldn't corral.

The Mountain Lions, who outshot the Nighthawks 24-11, nearly tied the match in the final 90 seconds. Macauley King's shot from the left side of the box careened off the crossbar and Daniel Fabrizio's follow-up shot was saved by UNG goalkeeper Michael Samnik, who stopped 11 shots.

Young Harris also held a 7-3 advantage on corner kicks. YHC goalkeeper Anton Viden recorded four saves.