FLORENCE, SC – Lander University scored twice within a two-minute span early in the second half and the Bearcats would go on to capture a 4-2 victory over Francis Marion University, Wednesday night (Sept. 28), in Peach Belt Conference men's soccer action.

FMU drops to 2-6-1 overall and 1-2-0 in the Peach Belt, while Lander improves to 5-3-0 and remains unbeaten in conference play at 3-0-0.

The Patriots will travel to Morrow, Ga., for a Saturday night match (7:30 p.m.) against Clayton State University.  The next home match for Francis Marion will be an Oct. 8 tilt with Young Harris College at 1:30 p.m.

Sam Lofts scored the first of two goals for the Bearcats in the ninth minute to put Lander up 1-0.  FMU freshman Mathias Hjort tallied his first collegiate goal at the 18:37 mark to even the score.  Patriot sophomore Levin Sandmann played a through ball that got past a Lander defender and Hjort ran onto the ball and slotted an 11-yard shot past Lander goalkeeper Dean Cowdroy.

Sandmann took a free kick from just outside the penalty area in the 27th minute, but his blast through the defensive wall was pushed aside by a diving Cowdroy.

Only 1:03 into the second stanza, FMU junior midfielder Gaspard Mianne corralled a blocked attempt and scored on a 19-yard shot to give Francis Marion its first lead at 2-1.

However, the Bearcats scored in the 63rd and 65th minutes – the second tally coming from Lofts – to forge ahead 3-2.  The Bearcats added an insurance goal at the 76:39 mark.

Lander outshot the Patriots 18-12 and held a narrow 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Sandmann paced FMU with five shots, while Mianne and Hjort both had three.

Mianne nearly put the Patriots ahead in the second minute of the contest.  The sequence began on a counter with a pass from freshman Matteo Capitani to Hjort who crossed the ball to Mianne and the French International’s shot glanced off the crossbar and straight down, but did not cross the goal line.

FMU junior goalkeeper Jordan Le Guyader made his third start as a Patriot and registered two saves.  Cowdroy finished with five stops, including three in the final 13:02 of the match.

Lander University (5-3-0, 3-0-0 PBC) def. Francis Marion Univ. (2-6-1, 1-2-0 PBC) 4-2
Date: Sep 28, 2016  Attendance: 153
Weather: Mostly Clear, 80 degrees, Winds

Goals by period         1  2  Tot
---------------------------------------
Lander University...   1  3 -  4
Francis Marion Univ.  1  1 -  2
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   8:05 LU Sam Lofts (2) (Sinclaire Sandy) - Cross from right side, settle, 11 yd shot to left of GK
1-1.  18:37 FMU Mathias Hjort (1) (Levin Sandmann) - Through ball, gets past defender, dribbles in, 11 yd shot past GK
1-2.  46:03 FMU Gaspard Mianne (1) (unassisted) - Attempt blocked and ball rebounded to #7 for 19 yd shot
2-2.  62:27 LU Jamie North (2) (unassisted) - Free kick from 23 yards out, center of field
3-2.  64:21 LU Sam Lofts (3) (Conor Felstead) - Lay off to left, 13 yd shot
4-2.  76:39 LU Conor Felstead (3) (Sinclaire Sandy;Michael Leach) - Pass ahead 10 yd shot

Shots: Lander University 18, Francis Marion Univ. 12 ; Saves: Lander University 5 (Dean Cowdroy 5), Francis Marion Univ. 2  (Jordan Le Guyader 2)

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