HICKORY, N.C. – The theme of the night was predictably defense in a rematch of last year's NCAA Southeast Regional Championship game between the Lander women's soccer team and No. 7 Lenoir-Rhyne, and it was the Bearcats who came out on top 1-0 by full-time.
Only five combined five shots were put on net the entire match but the one that counted most came from
Ellisyn Poland in the 70th minute. Working a corner-kick set piece,
Peyton Bibbee passed to
Reagan Hardy who chipped one into the box. Poland and
Ansley Morrell were both there to try to head one through and it was Poland who got enough of her body on it to put LU ahead.
The win marks the fifth consecutive shutout to start the season for the 4-0-1 Bearcats. It was also the 26th of goalkeeper
Leah Hayes Coen's standout career, placing her in a fourth-place tie all-time in the Peach Belt Conference. Hayes Coen made two saves tonight in 90 minutes.
One of those came on the Bears' best chance during a scramble for the ball in the 51st minute after a corner-kick when Hayes Coen pushed Mya Rivera's shot to the side. LR fell to 3-2, 1-0 South Atlantic Conference.
In addition to Hayes Coen, five Bearcats played the entirety of this potential NCAA Tournament preview:
Peyton Bibbee,
Reagan Hardy,
Maddie Leber,
Langley Stewart and
Kylie Wilson.
Paige Bailey provided 85 minutes in a starting role for the first time while
Emerson Hamilton logged a career-high 70 minutes after subbing in for
Darcy Ahern, who was injured during the match.
There was evidently no love lost between these recently-established foes as there were eight yellow cards and 20 fouls throughout.
Lander has this Saturday off before returning to action next Wednesday, Sept. 16 at
Van Taylor Stadium versus Newberry. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.
