Lander Upends UNC Pembroke 5-1 in PBC Tournament

MORROW, Ga. - November 2, 2007 - It was a tale of two halves in the first semifinal game of the 2007 Peach Belt Conference Men's Soccer Tournament on Friday between UNC-Pembroke and Lander.

For Lander, the second half was a charm.

The Bearcats erupted for five second-half goals in route to an impressive 5-1 victory over UNC-Pembroke at Clayton State's Laker Field. The victory lifts 19^th-ranked Lander (13-3-2) into the Peach Belt Conference championship game for the 10^th time in the history of the conference.

UNC-Pembroke clinged to a 1-0 lead at halftime when Lander turned it up a notch offensively.

The Bearcats tied the game on a goal by Aaron Brittain in the 60^th minute. Four minutes later, Martyn Bell scored his first of two goals on a 35-yard strike off a corner kick by Jamie Davison, and the offensive onslaught was on.

Adam Arthur increased the Bearcat lead to 3-1 in the 79^th minute on header in front of the goal off a right cross from Davison. The final two Lander goals came within a minute of each other. Brittain scored his second goal off a steal from a clear from Braves' goalkeeper Wes Bowers in the 84^th minute. A minute later, Arthur again struck from 35 yards out off an assist by Jamie Ramm.

Lander goalkeeper Garrett Daum recorded eight saves, while Bowers had four saves for UNC-Pembroke (8-11).

Lander will meet the winner of Clayton State and North Georgia on Sunday in the championship.

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