GREENWOOD, S.C. – The 2021 soccer season kicked off Saturday with the West Georgia Wolves dropping a 1-0 decision to Lander on the road.


West Georgia got the first chance of the game as Sadie Prince put a shot on goal in the third minute, but the Lander goalie made the save.
 
"We had the first chance and I thought maybe that was the moment, but it wasn't meant to be, and then we had to do some growing in the game," said head coach Stacey Balaam, who began her fifth season as the Wolves' head coach.
 
Lander drew first blood in this one in the 13th minute. After West Georgia worked to get a shot from Jade Butcher off of a corner kick, he Bearcats countered quickly with Maren White finding the back of the end zone less than a minute later. 
 
West Georgia rattled four shots in the second half, with Sadie Prince and Sarah Weaver providing the best chance in the 73^rd minute.
 
"It's the first game of the season, so we now have to use this as our measure going forward, but we can't dwell on it because we have to get ready for a game on Wednesday," added Balaam.
 
The Wolves travel to North Georgia for a 5 p.m. kickoff in Dahlonega.