GREENWOOD, SC – Lander University's Drew Courtney scored two second-half goals and added one assist Saturday afternoon (Oct. 13) to lead the 13th-ranked Bearcats to a 5-2 Peach Belt Conference men’s soccer victory over Francis Marion University.

Lander improves to 9-2-2 overall and 4-1 in the PBC, while the Patriots drop to 4-9 and 1-2.

Francis Marion took an early 1-0 lead on freshman Ivan Juric’s goal at 13:20, but Lander came right back to tie the game a little more than one minute later when Antti Suoniemi netted the ball off Martyn Bell's corner kick at 14:40. The score remained tied 1-1 until after halftime.

Andres Catlla scored the goal to put Lander ahead for good at 52:36 with help from an assist by Courtney.  Courtney scored his first goal at 65:36 on an assist from Jamie Ramm to give Lander a 3-1 lead, and the Bearcats stretched the lead to 4-1 on an unassisted goal by Adam Arthur at 71:29.

The Patriots cut the margin to 4-2 at 85:42 when sophomore Kyle Clinton scored off an assist from Jonathan Bartomioli, but the Bearcats came right back and scored their final goal on the ensuing possession when Courtney fired in his final goal on an assist from K.C. Dunbaker.

Lander outshot FMU 21-8, and led in corner kicks 7-3.

FMU freshman goalkeeper Clark Richeson, seeing his first collegiate action after suffering an injury during the preseason, recorded nine saves. Lander's Garrett Daum had one save.

FMU plays host to USC Aiken on Wednesday at 4 p.m.  For the second consecutive year, the Francis Marion University men’s soccer program will participate in the Passionately Pink for the Cure™ program, raising funds for and awareness of breast cancer. Fans attending the match are encouraged to wear pink.