Lander Women’s Soccer Falls to Lenoir-Rhyne in NCAA tournament First Round
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The Lander Women’s Soccer team saw its impressive season come to an end with a 1-0 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, November 24, 2023. The Bearcats finished the season with a 14-5-3 record, achieving a second-place finish in the Peach Belt Conference with an 8-2-1 regular season record. https://landerbearcats.com/news/2023/11/26/womens-soccer-bearcats-fall-to-lenoir-rhyme-in-ncaa-tournament-first-round.aspx
Game Summary
Despite a strong second-half push, Lander was unable to overcome a first-half goal by lenoir-Rhyne. The Bears (13-4-3) held onto their lead, with goalkeeper Riley Miller proving pivotal, saving all six shots on target from the Bearcats.
The Bearcats created several scoring opportunities in the second half, including near misses from freshman grace Benson and Langley Stewart. Benson’s attempt in the 88th minute was denied by a lenoir-Rhyne defender, while Stewart’s header off a corner kick in the 77th minute was saved by Miller. Darcy Ahern also had a shot from 25 yards out in the 70th minute that was collected by the Bears’ keeper.
Earlier in the game, Katherine Blain had a goal disallowed due to an offsides call in the first half.
Key Moments
* First Half: lenoir-Rhyne scored the lone goal of the match.
* Second Half: Lander generated four shots on target, demonstrating increased offensive pressure.
* 88th Minute: Grace Benson’s close-range rebound was denied by a Lenoir-Rhyne defender.
* 77th Minute: Langley Stewart’s header was saved by Riley Miller.
Coach Ayer and Lucy Bova Reflect on the Season
A post-game press conference featuring Lander Women’s Soccer Head Coach Chris Ayer and senior defender Lucy Bova is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJkV4MnwqTs
Looking Ahead
The 2023 season was a prosperous one for the Lander Women’s Soccer program, marked by a strong conference showing and an NCAA tournament appearance.The Bearcats will look to build on this momentum in the coming seasons,continuing to develop their talented roster and compete for a conference championship and deeper runs in the NCAA Tournament.
Key Takeaways:
* Lander finished the season with a 14-5-3 record and a second-place finish in the Peach Belt Conference.
* Lenoir-Rhyne’s goalkeeper, Riley Miller, was crucial to their victory, saving all six shots on target.
* Despite creating several scoring chances, Lander was unable to find the back of the net.
* The Bearcats’ appearance in the NCAA Tournament marks a significant achievement for the program.
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