Leo Andrade hadn’t scored all year for Brave SC but, when it mattered most, the Buffalo captain delivered a brace that was worth a division title.

On the back of his two goals, Brave SC (9-1-2) defeated Inter Gainesville KF (3-8-1) 3-1 Friday night at The Range at The Villages Charter Middle School to claim its fifth Southeast Division title and second in a row.

“It feels great. It had to be the last game at home. I know it’s painful to wait when we could have won the division two games ago, but I wouldn’t change this moment to maybe win on the couch depending on other results,” head coach Anderson DaSilva said. “It was a perfect night.”

Andrade gave the Buffalo their first lead in the 21st minute when he mopped up a deflected ball in the box from an Alvaro Carrera corner kick. His second came in the 34th in an almost identical situation.

“It felt so good,” Andrade said “We’ve been practicing the whole week and I’ve been scoring and I told Alvaro, just put the ball in the box, because I think it’s going to come. Thank God, it came, so I could help the team with two goals. I think it was the first time in my life I’ve scored two because I’ve played center back my whole life.”

Brave added one more before the intermission on a strike by Alvaro Carrera, assisted by Fabio Rodrigues.

Gainesville countered with a goal just after halftime, a point blank shot from Fritz Paul at the right post, but that would be the only tally of the evening for the visitors, as the Buffalo held on from there for the victory.

With the win, Brave SC finished the regular season at 9-1-2, matching Nona FC’s record and 29 points, but earned the edge for the division title via their plus-30 goal differential, tied with Asheville City SC for the best mark in the league, as of the conclusion of the match.

Now, having successfully defended one title, the Buffalo set their sights once again on the Southern Conference playoffs, where they will join a field that already includes the undefeated Little Rock Rangers, AHFC Royals and Asheville City, as well as rival Nona FC, Tennessee SC and the Lone Star Division’s Corpus Christie FC.

“It felt like one job is done, but it’s not done yet,” Andrade said. “Last year, we won the division and the conference, but there’s one trophy missing: the national title, so we’re going to go for it.”

Brave SC will play in the first round of the Southern Conference playoffs Friday night in Asheville.

For more information on Brave SC, including the roster, Southeast Division standings and a complete schedule, visit BraveSC.com.