DAHLONEGA, Ga. – A top-20 showdown was on tap at the UNG Soccer Field this afternoon between the No. 15 Lander women's soccer team and the 17th-ranked North Georgia Nighthawks. The hosts came out with a 1-0 win in a tight battle.
The Bearcats and Nighthawks each had 10 shots on the day, but UNG (7-3, 3-2 PBC) put half of its attempts on target and was able to get the deciding goal during the first half. Lander had one shot on net and suffered its first loss of the season, falling to 5-1-2, 0-1-1 PBC.
Reagan Hardy came within inches of starting things off with a bang in the third minute with a left-footed shot that bounced off the far post after
Sophia Trio sent her a through ball up the left wing. That led to one of three Bearcat corner-kicks in the opening 10 minutes as LU generated a good deal of offense early.
UNG's goal came in the 30th minute. It was a shot through heavy traffic that deflected off the foot of defender
Langley Stewart, and that alteration was enough to prevent
Leah Hayes Coen from getting in front of it. Hayes Coen made four saves in 90 minutes.
Maddie Leber put Lander's lone shot on goal in the 75th minute that was saved by the Nighthawks' keeper. Leber also sent a pass into the box with just over three minutes remaining, but
Ansley Morrell's header went out right.
The Bearcats return to
Van Taylor Stadium this Wednesday, Sept. 30 for a 5:00 match against USCA.
