DAHLONEGA, Ga.----Using a three-goal first half, the Lander women's soccer team (2-6-0, 1-1-0) defeated North Georgia College & State University (0-6-0, 0-4-0) Saturday afternoon 5-1 at the NGCSU Soccer Complex.

The Lady Bearcats capitalized early off a Lady Saints' foul in the 18-yard box five minutes into the match. Sophomore forward Jannica Finnberg knocked a penalty kick to give LU a 1-0 lead. Ten minutes later, freshman midfielder Stacey Copeland received a pass from junior midfielder Sarah Burnette and blasted it toward the goal. North Georgia sophomore goalkeeper Mary Canon-Williams got a hand on the ball to deflect it but it knocked off the post and off Canon-Williams to go into the net and make the score 2-0. The Lady Bearcats got their final goal of the first half one minute later after junior midfielder Elise Goldy shot one past the posts to make the score 3-0 heading into intermission.

The second half went back and forth for the first 30 minutes with each team unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities. In the 79th minute, junior midfielder Christian Wade received a cross from the right side and shot it in to score LU's fourth goal of the match.

Junior forward Jessica Williams broke the Lady Bearcats shutout in the 82nd minute after receiving a corner kick to cut the lead to 4-1. LU scored a final goal with less than 10 seconds left in the match after Goldy put a nice ball into the six-yard box and senior midfielder Noel Livernois put it in for the final goal.

The Lady Bearcats out shot the Lady Saints 22-16 in the match. LU freshman goalkeeper Rachael Hine tallied six saves for the win. Canon-Williams tallied two saves in the first half and sophomore Kelly Conarro made seven in the second for North Georgia.

The Lady Bearcats host Coker College at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28 in a non-conference contest.