AIKEN - The Lander women's soccer team scored two first-half goals within a three-minute span Wednesday night to pace the Lady Bearcats to a 4-2 Peach Belt Conference victory against USC Aiken at the Pacer Pit.
In winning its third straight game, Lander improves to 8-5 overall and 3-4 in the PBC, while USC Aiken falls to 2-9-1, 0-6-1.
Lara Middlebrook netted her first goal of the season on an open net rebound at 25:22 to give Lander a 1-0 lead. Jamie Shaw followed at 28:20 when she took a cross from Middlebrook and placed the ball in the left corner. It was Shaw's sixth goal of the season.
The Lady Pacers cut the margin to 2-1 at 48:06 when Jenny Pineiro scored on an assist from Alex Cohen.
Lander extended the lead to 3-1 on Christina Barbour's fifth score of the season, which was assisted by Shaw.
USCA made it 3-2 on Cohen's unassisted goal at 78:12.
The Lady Bearcats' Nina Morales scored her first collegiate goal at 78:55 on an assist from Shaw for the game's final score.
Lander outshot USCA, 20-15, but the Lady Pacers led in corner kicks, 6-1.
USCA goalkeeper Melissa Westphal totaled seven saves, while Lander's Chelsea Beetch had five.
Lander will host UNC Pembroke at 1 p.m., Saturday, in a PBC contest.
