GREENWOOD – Hosting the fifth-ranked team in the country at
Van Taylor Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Lander women's soccer team fell 2-1 to undefeated North Georgia in a Peach Belt match.
The Bearcats (6-2-1, 3-1-0 PBC) showed resolve during a second half where they trailed 2-0. In the 70th minute,
Paige Bailey got enough of her left foot on a
Peyton Bibbee cross to chip it above the keeper and trimmed the deficit in half. It was Bailey's team-leading third goal of the season.
Bibbee herself had a chance from in close in the 87th minute when
Rylee King's free-kick from the left side of the pitch found her, but she was unable to get it past the keeper.
Reagan Hardy fired a left-footed shot on net earlier in the 61st minute that was stopped.
It was another evenly-matched contest for Lander with shots registered reading 12-11 UNG (9-0-1, 5-0-0 PBC), and 6-5 SOG in favor of the Nighthawks.
The Bearcats almost made it 2-1 in the first half as
Katherine Haigler headed a corner-kick that was narrowly saved by a UNG defender.
Leah Hayes Coen made four saves in net.
Lander returns to action this Wednesday, Oct. 8, on the road versus USC Aiken. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
