DAHLONEGA, GA – The Lander men’s soccer team handed North Georgia its worst loss of the year Monday afternoon when the Bearcats claimed a 4-0 Peach Belt Conference victory.

Lander improves to 8-4-1 overall and 5-0-1 in the PBC, while North Georgia drops to 5-7, 1-4.

The Bearcats wasted little time applying pressure on North Georgia, sending multiple shots on goal before breaking though in the 20th minute as Craig Hughes launched a throw into the box and Andy Ludewig came across and sent a shot past North Georgia keeper Rade Tanaskovic for the first score of the game.

Just 11 minutes later in the 31st minute, Adam Arthur served a perfect pass into the box, finding Ivan Stoykov who sent a diving header into the net to make it a 2-0 Lander lead.

North Georgia had a perfect chance to pull to within a goal with under two minutes to play in the first half as Juan Hurtado sent a cross into the box, but Justin Gonzales’ attempt at a diving header ended up in the hands of Bearcat keeper Matthew Atkinson to keep the Saints off the board.

After the defensive stop by the Bearcats, Lander went right back to work and added one more goal before halftime as Arthur got in on the scoring, taking a pass from Stoykov and sending it home for his team-leading 11th goal of the season.

Lander netted one more goal, this one coming in the 48th minute, as Arthur continued his impressive day with a pass to Aaron Brittain who knocked home his ninth goal of the season.

Atkinson recorded the victory in goal for the Bearcats, holding the Saints scoreless, while picking up three saves in the game. Tanaskovic allowed all four Lander goals and had nine saves.

Lander outshot NGC&SU, 21-8, and led in corner kicks, 5-1.

Lander will host Montevallo at 4 p.m. this Saturday in a PBC contest.