ANDERSON, S.C. - Lander used two second-half goals to defeat the Anderson women's soccer team, 2-0, in a hard-fought non-conference matchup Wednesday afternoon at Trojan Stadium.
The Trojans (5-6-0) dedicated the match to the memory of Anderson men's basketball player Lamar Jack, who passed away Tuesday morning. The team also honored Jack by wearing white armbands during the match and placing yellow roses on his number 31, which was painted on the field in a pregame ceremony.
Anderson had its two-match win streak snapped, while Lander (9-8-1) ran its unbeaten streak to seven contests and posted its eighth clean sheet of the season.
The Bearcats set the pace early, recording four shots but had just one shot on goal through the first 36 minutes to show for their efforts. Anderson had two near breakaways by junior forward Jessica Kleinberg negated by offsides, but after two saves by AU net-minder Kaitlyn Neipp in a three-minute span late in the half, the Trojans nearly took the lead in the 42nd minute as Kleinberg fired a shot that Lander's Chelsea Beetch knocked down and then gathered in.
After a scoreless opening frame, the Bearcats' Jamie Shaw recorded her team-leading seventh goal of the season with a header from close range on the left side that was just beyond Neipp's grasp inside the near post.
Going into Wednesday's match, the Trojan's last seven contests had been decided by a single goal, and AU's defense again kept the score close, but Lander garnered an insurance goal with 5:34 left, as senior forward Christina Barbour scored from 15 yards out.
Lander held an 11-6 advantage in shots, including a 6-3 edge in shots on goal and the Bearcats posted five corner kicks to AU's three. Beetch, the reigning Peach Belt Conference Goalkeeper of the Week. earned the win, while Neipp suffered the setback for AU.
Anderson opens a two-match South Atlantic Conference road swing at Mars Hill on Sunday. Kick-off versus the Lions is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Click on the Lamar Jack Tribute Photo Gallery either under the FANZONE link or the women's soccer photo gallery to see photos from today's tribute.
