GREENVILLE, S.C. - In a conference field of 16 teams, Lander has a strong performance going 4-1 and earns 9 series points on the SRC 7s series.  After the tournament finish today, the Lander men are sitting in second place on the Spring series with 17 tournament points, behind The Citadel with 20 tournament points.  

Lander started the morning, at Furman University, playing the Appalachian State University Mountaineers.  This was the first matchup between these two teams for this Spring season.  The Bearcats wasted little time getting on the scoreboard when Jeremiah Rosenbrook receives the ball out of the scrum and passes to Tomás Mussi who dashes into the left corner for the first try of the day, Mussi's conversion was unsuccessful.  Two minutes later Austin Johnson has one of several overpowering line breaks on the day and he scores for the Bearcats, followed by a Mussi conversion.  On the last play of the half, the Mountaineers were able to find the try zone, but their conversion was unsuccessful.  The score at the half was Lander 12-5!  The second half started with a quick score by Ethan Richardson, following a Cameron Smith line break and assist, and the conversion by Mussi was successful.  At the four-minute mark, Johnson had his second try of the match and Mussi followed it with a converted kick.  To close out the match Mussi scored a try and converted his kick in the seventh minute.  Lander over App State 33-5!

Match number two was against the UNC Charlotte 49ers.  The Bearcats were able to strike early with Austin Johnson finishing a line break with a try and Tomás Mussi converted the ensuing kick.  Jeremiah Rosenbrook found some space with the ball in hand and scored the next try of the match and the kick by Mussi was unsuccessful.  The score at the half was 12-0 Lander.  In the second half scored under the post on a late assist by Johnson following a long line break and Mussi converted the kick.  Mussi then kept the scoreboard moving for the Bearcats with an unconverted try off of the upright.  Two minutes later Mussi barreled over a 49er defender to drive into the try zone in the left corner, unfortunately, Mussi was unable to convert the kick.  The wind gusts were starting to pick up and scoring in the corners was proving to make conversions even more difficult.  The Bearcats finished this match on top of the 49ers 29-0.

The last match in pool play was against an improving and very athletic Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers.  Both teams were coming into the match 2-0 on the day and the winner would advance to the tournament semifinal.  The Bearcats were able to see Austin Johnson burst through the gain line and score the matches first try, followed by a successful conversion off the boot of Tomás Mussi.  Eric Burkett had a midfield line break that he was able to finish in the try zone, which was followed by another successful Mussi conversion.  The Bearcats led at the half 14-0 over the Chanticleers.  Cameron Smith showed his evasiveness and power to finish in the first minute of the second half with a try and the following Mussi conversion was missed.  At the five-minute mark in the second half, the Chanticleers did score their first try of the match and left it unconverted.  Laureano Petris had a line break, from about 80 meters, down the near sideline to score his first try of the day and he was set to get the five and two, but the conversion was no good.  Lander kept the lead and finished over Coastal Carolina 24-5.

With the 3-0 finish in pool play, Lander was slotted to play UNC Tar Heels, in the tournament semi-final.  The Tar Heels are led by All-American Luke Texeira and have a very talented squad.  This was going to be a physical and tightly contested match.  The Tar Heels do score quickly to start the match and follow it with a successful conversion.   One minute later Tomás Mussi was able to answer with a try for the Bearcats and Mussi followed with a successful conversion to tie it up.  Chapel Hill did break to the try line on the last play of the half and they were able to convert the kick, giving us a halftime score of 7-14 UNC.  The second half was mostly hard-hitting and stingy defense from both sides, the Bearcats had a long line-break in the fourth minute of the half and Austin Johnson did as he had all day, punishing defenses with his hard running.  Austin was able to score a long try and center it for Mussi to successfully convert the kick.  Due to some confusion the Bearcats elected to kick the ball to touch at the end of regulation thinking they were ahead 14-12, it was discovered that the Tar Heels had been granted the points for both of their conversion… we are going to overtime 14-14.  It did not matter on the first possession, Mussi came into a break down and with matched number on the strong side by the Tar Heels, he took the ball weak and gave the ball to our work horse.  Johnson darted down the far sideline and was able to score the winning try in sudden death for his Bearcats.  Lander wins 19-14 over UNC Chapel Hill.

The tournament final has the Bearcats against a familiar opponent, the Bulldogs from The Citadel.  The last tournament had Lander and The Citadel opposed in the Semifinal and it went to overtime with the Bulldogs coming out on top.  They proceeded to win the final over UNC Wilmington.  This match would prove to be exciting and just as competitive.  The Citadel does score first in the second minute and is able to covert the kick under the post.  Ethan Richardson has his best run on the day, and he placed the ball under the post and Tomás Mussi ties it up with his conversion.  On the last play of the half Austin Johnson gives Lander the first lead of the match and centers his placement, giving Mussi a much easier conversion.  The score at the break was 14-7.  The second half has The Citadel tie up the match in the first minute with a try and successful conversion.  Both teams are playing very physically and neither team can break the other's defense, until in the fourth minute when The Citadel scores a converted try to break the tie.  Both teams are playing stellar defense and the chess match ends with The Citadel taking the win 14-21.

Today was a good day all around for the Bearcats!  While he didn't score, Hayden Bullwinkle played with a very high work rate in contact and at the breakdown.  Also, Austin Johnson had a day for the ages with 7 tries and stellar defense that might have matched his dominance on attack.  Austin was our Bearcat of the Day.

Next for the Bearcats will be an all-in-state 7s tournament at USC on April 10 with Lander, USC, Clemson, Furman and The Citadel.