Bearcats Claw Their Way To Shutout Over Saints
DAHLONEGA, GA
– The North Georgia College & State University
men’s soccer suffered their worst loss of the year on Monday
afternoon, falling 4-0 to league-leading Lander University at the
Soccer Complex in Peach Belt Conference action.
North Georgia drops their second straight game, falling to 5-7
overall and 1-4 in the Peach Belt Conference, while Lander
University stays at the front of the pack in the league, improving
to 8-4-1 overall, and 5-0-1 in the conference.
The Bearcats wasted little time applying pressure on North Georgia,
sending multiple shots on goal before breaking though in the 20th
minute as Craig Hughes launched a throw in into the box and Andy
Ludewig came across and sent a shot past North Georgia keeper Rade
Tanaskovic for the first score of the game.
Just 11 minutes later in the 31st minute, Adam Arthur served a
perfect pass into the box, finding the head of Ivan Stoykov who
sent a diving header into the net to make it a 2-0 Lander lead.
North Georgia had a perfect chance to pull to within a goal with
under two minutes to play in the first half as Juan Hurtado sent a
cross into the box, but Justin Gonzales’ attempt at a diving
header ended up in the hands of Bearcat keeper Matthew Atkinson to
keep the Saints off the board.
After the defensive stop by the Bearcats, Lander went right back to
work and added one more goal before halftime as Arthur got in on
the scoring, taking a pass from Ivan Stoykov and sending it home
for his team-leading 11th goal of the season.
Lander University would tally one more goal in the contest, this
one coming in the 48th minute, as Arthur continued his impressive
day with a pass to Aaron Brittain who knocked home his ninth goal
of the season, giving the Bearcats a 4-0 conference victory on the
road. Arthur ended the day with four points, recording a goal and a
pair of assists to lead Lander.
Atkinson recorded the victory in goal for the Bearcats, holding the
Saints scoreless, while picking up three saves in the game.
Tanaskovic allowed all four Lander goals, but made a pair of
dazzling stops as part of nine saves on the day.
Lander University attempted five corner kicks to the Saints one,
while the Bearcats held a 21-8 advantage in shots.
North Georgia returns to action on Wednesday afternoon, traveling
to Montevallo to tangle with the Falcons, while Lander University
also faces UM in their next match, hosting Montevallo on Saturday
afternoon.
