USC Aiken Falls To Lander, 1-0

AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's soccer team dropped a hard-fought 1-0 match to Lander Wednesday evening.

The Pacers are now 1-3 on the season, including 1-2 in league play.

At the 21:21 mark, Fabian Avila ripped a shot toward the frame, but it was thwarted by a defender. Moments later, Pablo Corcuera took a corner kick, but USC Aiken was unable to get a shot off the set piece.

Uri-Malcolm Young dribbled past two defenders, went near the end-line and rocketed a point-blank shot. However, Keanu Ridgill was up for the task and registered a save late in the first half, keeping the match scoreless at the break.

Young registered a shot from 20 yards out in the 59^th minute, but the ball sailed just high of the cross bar. After a header for Lander missed, Davide Panucci garnered a shot, but it was blocked.

In the 77^th minute, the Bearcats broke through for what turned out to be the lone goal of the match. 

Head coach Ike Ofoje's team tried to counter, but Lucas Pegorer's shot was blocked in the 78^th minute. The Pacers had a pair of corner kicks the rest of the way, but the squad could manage just one more shot – this time off a header from Hippolyte Denis, but it missed to the right of the goal.

For the match, USC Aiken posted six shots, including one on target. Cason Donahue got the starting nod between the pipes and played all 90 minutes. He stopped four shots.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they step out of conference play to travel to Catawba for a 7 p.m., match.