FLORENCE, SC – Junior Luke Ibbetson scored three goals as 21st-ranked Lander University claimed a 4-0 win over Francis Marion University, Saturday afternoon (Oct. 1) in Peach Belt Conference men's soccer action.
Lander improves to 7-2-1 overall and is unbeaten (2-0-0) in PBC play. FMU drops to 6-5-0 and 0-2-0.
Ibbetson, a 2004 All-American, now has 51 career goals and moves past USC Upstate's Miles Dean and into seventh place on the PBC's career goal-scoring list.
His first goal of the day was headed in off a serve from Jack Thompson at 8:14 of the opening half. Only 1:19 later, the Lander lead grew to 2-0 on an own goal that bounced off a Patriot defender and into the goal.
In the second half, Ibbetson scored again on a header at 49:27, using a pass from Carlos Lozano. His final tally came at 81:04 when he knocked in a rebound off a shot by Lozano.
Lander outshot Francis Marion 25-11 and held a slight 7-5 advantage in corner kicks.
Senior goalkeeper Garrett Daum compiled seven saves en route to his second shutout of the season. FMU senior goalkeeper Jonathan Runion posted 10 saves, his third double-digit save match of the year.
Francis Marion has a chance to avert the shutout, but Daum stopped a penalty kick by Biagio Galle in the 90th minute.
Lander hosts North Greenville College at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
