KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Lander women's soccer Head Coach Chris Ayer and Associate Head Coach Jason Madvig have been named the United Soccer Coaches Division II Southeast Region Staff of the Year.

Ayer led a Bearcat team that set a new program record for wins in a single season with 14 as Lander finished 14-4-2. LU also made the NCAA Tournament for the second time in as many years thanks to its high level of success, and for the third time in program history (2018).

The Bearcats set a new benchmark in that setting as well, winning a pair of matches and advancing to the Southeast Region Championship for the first time in program history.

They topped No. 4 seed Francis Marion in the first round by a 1-0 final before besting top-seed Catawba in the second round, 2-1.

The Blue and Gold also collected eight wins during Peach Belt Conference play – the program's most since 2013 – and had four All-Conference selections in Peyton Bibbee, Leah Hayes Coen, Sophia Trio and Kylie Wilson.

Bibbee, Hayes Coen and Wilson were each named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Team.

Additionally, Ayer reached a pair of coaching milestones in his 20th season at the helm: he collected career win No. 200 in the NCAA Tournament over FMU, and earlier in the season hit 97 wins in the PBC to claim second place all-time after beating Georgia College on Nov. 1.