After 120 minutes of soccer the Lee men's soccer team settled for a 1-1 tie at Alabama Huntsville on Sunday afternoon.
With the draw the Flames are now 8-5-1 on the season and 3-2-1 in the Gulf South Conference. The Chargers move to 4-8-1 and 2-3-1 in league play.
Senior captain David Perez got the Flames on the board at the 23:24 mark as he fired his eighth goal of the season into the bottom right corner of the net. The score was set up by sophomore Drew Jackson.
Alabama Huntsville knotted things up when Hermann Bjornsson struck for his sixth goal of the season in the 36th minute.
Daniel Buchanan was credited with the assist.
From that point on it was a defensive struggle for 84 minutes as both teams had opportunities but neither could land a deciding goal.
"Tonight was a real battle between two conference teams fighting for position down the stretch," said head coach Paul Furey. Either team could have won ifit wsn't for some excellent goal keeping on both ends. Their goal keeper had a couple of big saves and Dan (Hrenko) came up with two great saves to keep us in it."
The evenly contested match featured eight shots on goal by each team with Lee holding a slight 17-15 edge in total shots. The two conference rivals weren't shy about playing physical as they combined for 27 fouls and five yellow cards.
"We just didn't take advantage of the opportunities we had. Both games this weekend were similar in that we are creating chances but we are just not finishing like we are capable of doing," noted Furey.
The Flames defense allowed just one goal and Hrenko was credited with six saves. The Chargers used a combination of two keepers as Myles Fullen started and worked the first 52 minutes allowing one goal. Gabriel Chilas, seeing his first action of the season, stepped in for the home team and manned the net for the final 58 minutes, and recorded five saves while keeping the game tied at one.
"We're looking foward to a challenge this weekend at home when we face the top team in the conference." Furey was alluding to Mississippi College (9-1-1, 7-0) who will come to town on Friday at 5 p.m. The Flames will wrap up the home schedule and celebrate Senior Day on Sunday at 4 p.m.