GREENWOOD - Armstrong Atlantic scored two second-half goals, spoiling Lander's Senior Day with a 2-0 Peach Belt Conference women's soccer victory over the Lady Bearcats Saturday afternoon.
Armstrong improved to 10-5-3 overall and 4-2-2 in the Peach Belt. Lander fell to 7-8-1, 2-5-1. It was the regular season finale for both teams as the PBC Tournament begins Tuesday.
It was the final home game for Lander seniors Rachael Hine, Jannica Finnberg, and Annie Polhamus.
As the Lady Bearcats head into the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, Finnberg is Lander's all-time leader in goals (30), assists (21), and points (81). Hine, the team's goalkeeper for four years until separating her shoulder in the seventh game of this season, logged 5,091 minutes in the net. She had a school-record 18 shutouts and a 1.68 goals against average. Polhamus, a transfer student, has three goals this season. The three were recognized before the match.
Ironically, while playing midfield as she has since her shoulder injury, Hine saved a goal in the first half during a flurry of Armstrong scoring opportunities. A shot got behind Lady Bearcats goalkeeper Katherine Baltz and Hine was around the net to clear it. She made another key defensive play later in the first half as the teams went into halftime in a scoreless tie despite Armstrong's 12-2 advantage in shots.
The Pirates took the lead in the 50th minute when Brittany Carr scored off Kristin Burton's assist. Armstrong executed a cross that Burton flicked in front of the goal to Carr for a 1-0 lead.
The Pirates went up 2-0 when Erin Holt scored an unassisted goal on a breakaway in the 54th minute.
Armstrong out-shot the Lady Bearcats 20-5 and had a 10-2 edge in corner kicks. Baggett had seven saves for Lander while Tracey Mitchell had two stops for the Pirates.
