Aiken, SC – Despite several late chances over the waning moments of the second half, the University Of South Carolina-Aiken men’s soccer team was unable to claim victory over the visiting Lander Bearcats, dropping their Peach Belt Conference tilt 2-1 at the “Pacer Pit” Wednesday evening.
The Pacers now find themselves 1-8-2 overall for the 2010 campaign and fall to 0-4-1 in league action while Lander improves to one over .500 at 6-5 overall and are now 4-0 in PBC action.
Lander’s Jamie Davison set up the first goal of the contest as he sent a set piece across the field towards the far corner of the box allowing Craig Hughes to head the ball back across to the right side before Aaron Britton headed the ball into the corner of the net to give Lander the 1-0 lead.
Raul Beckman (West Columbia, S.C./ USC Salkehatchie) tied things back up in the 20th minute for USC Aiken at 1-1 when he connected off a corner kick by Schevon Joseph (Grenada/) with a gorgeous header over the Lander goal keeper and into the back of the net.
The second half opened with play on the pitch extremely spirited before Zach Acree sent a well-placed header into the back of the net off a cross from Trent Uldrick to give Lander the lead and eventual win at 2-1.
Lander held a slight advantage in shots at 18-15 while both net minders recorded five saves between the pipes a piece.
USC Aiken will next hit the road, traveling to Morrow , Ga. to challenge the Lakers of Clayton State in a PBC road match on Saturday, Oct. 16 that see the men taking to the pitch at first at 5 p.m. for the PBC double header
