AIKEN, S.C. – The Lander men's soccer team pulled the score within a goal twice, but ultimately fell 4-2 to USCA on the road Saturday in the first round of the PBC Tournament.
Vidar Rydell scored both of Lander's goals in the second half and accounted for half of Lander's six shots on net. His first goal came in the 54th minute off a corner kick set piece as
Omar Erwa shuffled a pass to him in the box and he got it through a crowd in front of the net to make it 2-1.
USCA – which scored a pair of goals two minutes apart in the middle of the first half – restored its two-goal lead at 3-1 in the 84th minute. Lander refused to quit, and less than a minute later was given a golden opportunity after
Dylan Colley was fouled in the box. Rydell took the PK and deposited it into the bottom right corner to cut the gap to 3-2.
Rydell tried for a hat trick and to tie the match in the 88th minute, but his shot was stopped.
Savvas Chionakis had one final chance with a minute to go and pushed a shot wide.
The Pacers thwarted the Bearcats' chances with 20 seconds left on their final goal.
For the match, Lander produced seven corners to USCA's four and took 13 shots in all.
