BLUFFTON, S.C. – In need of three points to climb the Peach Belt Conference standings, the Lander women's soccer team found just that on Monday afternoon via a 3-1 win over USC Beaufort in a rescheduled game at Fin Land Field.
The Bearcats (7-2-4, 2-2-3) scored all three of their goals in the first half and wasted little time getting ahead on
Saige Peterson's first goal in an LU uniform.
Maddie Leber sent a pass to the sophomore transfer in the box, Peterson played it off her chest, and fired a shot in one smooth motion in the 15th minute.
It was
Paige Bailey's turn six short minutes later after
Rylee King stopped a Sand Shark (6-7-2, 2-5-2) offensive attack and turned it up-field to
Angele Hills. Hills scooted it ahead to Bailey who put some nifty footwork on the ball before showcasing her wheels by outrunning a USCB defender. The keeper came out to defend but Bailey skirted past her and found the open net.
Bailey played a factor in the next goal as well, blocking a USCB pass in their own defensive half as they tried to clear.
Peyton Bibbee was the first one to the ball and she dished it to Hills who used her frame to create the scoring chance. It was anything but easy – though Hills made it seem otherwise – as she shot across her body to the top-left shelf.
That restored a two-goal lead for Lander, 3-1, the final score of the match in the 34th minute. Hills' seven goals are tied for fifth most in the conference.
The Sand Sharks did make
Leah Hayes Coen put in a full day's work in net to the tune of eight saves in 90 minutes – the most she's made in a game this season.
Lander will have a few days to breathe before it faces Georgia College in Milledgeville this Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.
