SALISBURY, N.C. – For the second year in a row, the Lander women's soccer team earned a First Round victory in the NCAA Tournament, this one coming by a 1-0 score in regulation over No. 4 seed Francis Marion at Frock Field on the campus of Catawba College on Friday.
Senior
Claire Regnault was the one who put the Bearcats on top in the 52nd minute, and stout defensive play that featured throughout held steady the rest of the way to preserve the win and a berth in Sunday's Second Round.
Maddie Leber collected
Peyton Bibbee's pass on the right side of the pitch before finding Regnault. Regnault then played Leber's pass off the chest, turned and fired in a score.
Lander was in control for the duration of the match, outshooting the Patriots 18-3 at one point before a late flurry of shots made that margin 18-10. The loss was only the third of the season for Francis Marion.
Only two of the Patriot's shots were on target, including one with 70 seconds left where keeper
Leah Hayes Coen showed her prowess and made a critical stop – that was followed by another save with 45 seconds to go.
Reagan Hardy nearly scored 10 seconds into the match when she gathered Hayes Coen's kick-off and ripped a left-footed shot that hit the right post. Hardy had another near-score in the 24th minute in front of the net.
This was the ninth time this season the Blue and Gold have shut out their opponent.
Lander will play No. 1 seed Catawba at Frock Field on Sunday at 3 p.m.
A postgame press conference from today can be viewed here.
