GREENWOOD – Three days removed from a statement comeback in Dahlonega, Ga., the Lander men's soccer team kept the ball rolling and topped Georgia Southwestern 2-0 Saturday afternoon at Van Taylor Stadium in another conference match.
Intermittent rain figured to be the story of the game for the first 45 minutes with neither side able to generate much offense while the score sat 0-0. But the skies cleared some and Lander (2-1-2, 1-0-1 PBC) controlled the action in the second half and scored twice eight minutes apart to gain the separation it needed.
Felipe Costa found the back of the net for the second time in the last three games when
Orran Mushet sent him a perfect cross from the right wing in the 52nd minute. The pass placed at his feet, Costa used his right foot to tuck it in the bottom left corner;
Omar Erwa also picked up an assist on the play.
Mateo Scialacomo put the wheels in motion on the next Bearcat goal in the 60th minute.
He intercepted a pass in the Hurricanes' (2-4, 0-2 PBC) offensive half and left it for Erwa. Erwa then passed ahead to
Savvas Chionakis, whose cross into the box was initially deflected by a GSW defender, but
Chad Haynes was Johnny-on-the-spot and put it in the bottom right corner. It was Haynes' second straight game with a goal.
GSW had the best chance it could hope for to trim the gap after being awarded a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. Dante Johnson stepped up to the mark and his left-footed strike nailed the crossbar.
Jack Ammann made four saves in his second career start and collected both his first clean sheet and first win.
The Bearcats will stay in the Palmetto State this upcoming Wednesday, Sept. 16 when they visit the Francis Marion Patriots. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. in Florence.
