HICKORY, N.C. – The Lander women's soccer team dropped its first game of the season Sunday afternoon when the Bearcats fell to No. 9-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne, 3-1, on the road.

Lenoir-Rhyne improves to 2-0 overall, while Lander drops to 0-1-1.

Lenoir-Rhyne jumped out to a 2-0 first-half lead when Kenalle Smith scored from in front of the goal at 6:22 then Leah Mullins made it 2-0 on a long shot over the goalkeeper's head at 17:19 on a pass by Garcellle Aleguqine.

Lander cut the lead to 2-1 at 43:57 on Taylor Piorkowski's goal from just outside the box.

Mullins gave the Lady Bears a 3-1 advantage with her second goal of the game at 50:12 on an unassisted shot.

L-R outshot Lander, 22-19, and led in corner kicks, 6-3.

Lander's Kelsey Blair had three saves, while L-R's Caitlin Scruggs totaled five.