PEMBROKE – Visiting Lander knotted up a tight game on a direct kick from Alexis Rogers in the 70th minute, but Courtney Crump's 74th minute strike proved to be the difference as the UNC Pembroke women's soccer team grabbed a key 2-1 Peach Belt Conference victory over the Bearcats on Wednesday evening.

The triumph marked the fifth win in the last six outings for UNCP (5-4-0, 4-1-0 PBC) who stayed within striking distance of league-leading Columbus State in the race for the regular season crown. The setback marked just the second loss in the last five games for Lander (4-4-0, 2-2-0) who has now dropped three-straight in the series with the Black & Gold.

Crump needed a game-best six shots to register her fourth game-winning goal of the campaign, while Armani Boswell netted the second goal of her UNCP career. Janae Aiken turned in three saves in the win to grab her fifth win between the pipes in 2015.

Lander got a team-best four shots from Rogers, while Shannon DeSantis tallied four saves in goal for the visitors.

After a scoreless first half, Boswell got the scoring started at the 64:56 mark when she finished off a quality run down the near sideline with a laser shot just inside the far post. The Bearcats utilized an untimely foul at the top of the penalty area to fuel an equalizing chance less than five minutes later and Rogers bounced a shot off the wall and just out of reach of a diving Aiken.

Crump used a bit of razzle dazzle to put the hosts up for good at the 73:59 mark, dribbling through a host of Lander defenders before connecting on a 22-yard shot to the far post.

UNCP will continue a season-long three game home stand on Saturday when it suits up to host PBC rival Georgia College (5-4-2, 3-3-0). Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. and admission to all 2015 UNCP soccer home games is free.