GREENWOOD – Lander forward Sam Lofts and defender Jordan Skelton earned Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week and Defender of the Week honors from the league after leading the Bearcats to wins over Francis Marion and Catawba.
Lofts, a senior from Swindon, England, pounded home five goals in two wins for the Bearcats last week, including his first career hat trick. The senior scored goals one, two and four in a 4-0 win over FMU on Wednesday, the third hat trick in the PBC this season and the first in a conference game. He followed that with two goals and an assist in a 6-3 win at Catawba. Lofts leads the PBC with 16 points on the season and is tied for the league lead with six goals.
Skelton, a junior from Newcastle, England, picked up his second weekly honor of the season after leading the Bearcat defense in last week’s wins including their fourth shutout. The junior helped hold the Patriots to only eight shots on Wednesday. Lander then held Catawba to eight shots with two of the Indians’ goals coming in the final 10 minutes with Lander down a player and a 5-1 lead. Skelton scored twice himself in that contest and is now tied for the league lead with six goals on the season. Lander is tied for the PBC lead in shutouts and is second in team goals against average.
The Bearcats hit the road to take on North Georgia on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Lander will then return home to take on USC Aiken on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 3:30 p.m.
