Summer Lanter and Kinsey Cichowitz tallied two goals each to lead the Lee University women’s soccer team to a 5-1 victory at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.
The Lady Flames improve to 10-2-1 overall and 7-1 in the Gulf South Conference (GSC). Lee stands alone in second place with West Florida in first at 8-0 in conference play. West Alabama (6-2-1) and Mississippi College (6-1-1) are tied for third with 19 points.
“Today was a big win against a good UAH team,” said Lee head coach Chris Hennessey. “We came out with a good mentality and fought hard for the entire 90 minutes.”
Cichowitz posted the first goal of the day in the 21st minute with a low shot from 13 yards out that found the bottom right of the net. Lanter was credited with the assist.
The Lady Flames carried a 2-0 lead into the half after Lanter scored off a pass from Anna Leslie in the 36th minute.
Less than a minute into the second half, Leslie pushed Lee’s lead to 3-0 with an unassisted goal. UAH (7-7-0, 3-6-0 GSC) avoided the shutout with a goal by Sydney Pfankuch from a Maddie Maurice pass.
Lanter would add her second goal of the match and ninth of the season to regain control of the match and push the Lee lead to 4-1 with 12:48 left on the clock. Kaela Leskovar recorded the assist.
Cichowitz supplied the day’s final margin with her team-leading 10th goal of the season. Leslie picked up her second assist of the match.
“I thought the buildup play leading up to some of our goals was excellent,” added Hennessey.
The Lady Flames fired 17 shots and placed 12 on frame, while UAH put seven of its 13 shots on goal. Haley Gribler played the first 45 minutes between the pipes for Lee and posted two saves.
Taylor Green did not face a shot on goal in nearly 13 minutes played, while Erin Olson allowed one goal to counter four saves. UAH’s Larae Breaux came up with seven saves.
“The response this weekend after last Sunday’s loss has been brilliant. Now we have to rest up and prepare for another physical battle against Mississippi College on Friday,” said Hennessey.
The GSC contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. It is the second game of a doubleheader with the men’s match starting at 5 p.m.