Greeneville, Tenn – The Lander men’s soccer team (3-1) passed a noteworthy test on Sunday as the team prevailed over Tusculum (0-2-1) in a 1-0 shutout on the road.
The win marked Lander’s first victory on the road this season. The Pioneers, who advanced to the NCAA Southeast Regional quarterfinals last season and entered the year with a No. 23 national ranking, were shut out for the second time this season at home.
Sophomore midfielder Corentin Da Mutten connected with the lone goal in the 51st minute behind an assist from senior forward Sam Lofts. For Da Mutten, the goal marked his first career score as a Bearcat. The talented Frenchman joined the team this season after spending last year with the University of Alabama in Huntersville.
In the game’s final 30 minutes, the Bearcats survived a flurry of attacks behind the stellar play of sophomore goalkeeper Dean Cowdroy. In the 62nd minute, the Pioneers were gifted with a penalty kick after the Bearcats fouled freshman forward Oscar Rubio Jimenez inside the box.
With Lander holding the one goal advantage, Cowdroy stared down former Greek national defenseman Georgios Charkoutsakis for the free kick. Charkoutsakis took aim at the low right corner of the goal, but Cowdroy closed the door on the Pioneers with a crucial diving save.
Sunday’s match marked one of the team’s last opportunities to fine-tune their performance before the start of Peach Belt Conference play this week.
Lander will be back on the road on Wednesday to face off against interstate foe Anderson (2-1) at 7:30 p.m.
