Ohio Dominican University came to the Lee University Soccer Field on Sunday sporting a 1-2 record. The visitors departed some three hours later probably feeling like one of the best NCAA Division II programs in the country.
Dominating the host Lady Flames for almost the entire 90 minutes, the Panthers improved to 2-2 overall and Lee will take a 1-3 record into a Wednesday evening (7 p.m.) contest against potent Columbus State University (Ga.)
"There aren’t a whole lot of positives I can say about our performance this afternoon," admitted Yelton.
"We weren’t sharp from the first whistle and I think a lot of that was the carryover from Friday night.” The Lady Flames whipped Findlay University (Ohio) on Friday in the annual Kickin' It For Kids With Cancer match.
After a scoreless first 45 minutes, ODU struck quickly in the second half. A goal by Allison Pavlik in the 47th minute put the Panthers on top to stay. The score was assisted by Alexa Scardind and came off a header on a corner kick. Kelly Johnson gave the Panthers insurance in the 57th minute when she tallied on a Lee defensive misplay inside the eight. In the 79th minute Johnson struck again. Ashley Blake delivered a cross into the box and Johnson kicked it in.
The Lady Flames got only eight shots the entire match and six were on goal. Keeper Kelsey Harris was there to save six in the win. On the other hand, Ohio Dominican fired 15 shots and nine were on goal. Lee kicker Marbel Egwuenu had six saves in defeat. ODU was awarded eight corner kicks and had four.
“The excuse that we have a young team won’t hold up much longer," stressed Yelton. "At some point we have to start taking ownership of the game and have a commitment to perform better over the course of 90 minutes.
“We will continue to work hard and try to turn this season around," he added. "Our schedule doesn’t get any easier with a top 10 program coming to our field on Wednesday night (Columbus State) and then the season opener in (GSC) conference next Sunday against North Alabama, but we will continue to try and improve and get back on the winning track."