FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9-17-05

College Soccer: AASU 5, Lander 2

WINTER PARK, Fla. – The Armstrong Atlantic State women’s soccer team turned in a 5-2 victory over visiting Lander University in the inaugural opener of Peach Belt Conference play for the Pirates on Saturday afternoon at AASU Soccer Field.

The Pirates (3-4, 1-0 PBC) scored first in the 11th minute when freshman Lyndsi Stricklen chipped a shot over Lander goalkeeper Rachel Hine off of an assist from Aubrie Roberts for a goal. Roberts got on the board herself just ten minutes later with a goal off of an assist from junior Claire McCombe – her team-leading fourth goal of the season and sent the Pirates into intermission with a 2-0 lead.

AASU started the scoring in the second half with two goals coming off assists from Roberts to Shana Neves, and later to Stricklen again, putting the Pirates in control of the game, 4-0.

Lander’s Jannica Finnberg placed a direct kick in the back of the net in the 64th minute to put Lander on the board, 4-1. Neves, unassisted, capped the Pirates’ scoring with her second goal of the match and the fifth goal for Armstrong Atlantic in the 66th minute to make the score 5-1. The Bearcats (1-5, 0-1 PBC) answered back with a goal coming from freshman Stacey Copeland in the 73rd minute, but Copeland was sent off with a red card in the 86th minute and Lander finished the game with just 10 players.

Freshman goalkeeper Lisa Gray recorded 10 saves for the Pirates in picking up the victory, while Lander’s Hine made five saves and gave up all five goals.

Armstrong Atlantic takes to the pitch next on Monday September 19, at 4:00 p.m. against Georgia Southwestern. Lander is next in action against Mars Hill at home on September 20.

- Pirates -