Cheered on by what Lee women's soccer coach Chris Hennessey described as "a great crowd that really turned out", the Lady Flames wasted no time in putting their first goal of the season in the back of the net and never looked back in a convincing 4-0 victory over visiting Lees-McRae College on Thursday evening at the Lee Soccer Field. The win evens Lee's record at 1-1-1, while Lees-McRae dropped to 0-3.
Kaela Leskovar picked up a loose ball at the top of the box and ripped it into the corner of the net to put the Lady Flames on top 1-0 with only 6:35 gone off the scoreboard clock.
Lee increased the margin to 2-0 by halftime when McKenzie Bricker was delivered a perfect ball by Carly Smoltz and slipped it past the keeper and into the empty net.
By this time, the fans were very much behind the Lady Flames.
"They really turned out and we could hear them from the sideline," said the appreciative Lee coach. "It was a good game for us and we needed it after a tough weekend in Columbus (Ga.)."
Almost six minutes deep into the second half, Leskovar recorded her second goal of the evening. Again, it was Smoltz who delivered the service into the box and Leskovar tallied from five yards out.
The final marker was posted on an unassisted goal by Lauren Peters. It came on a hard strike from some 25 yards away.
"I am really pleased with tonight's win. We talked about executing what we had been working on in training, and I was happy that a couple of our goals came directly from it. I also thought we showed more ambition in the final third and created a lot more chances than we had done in our last few games," explained Hennessey. 'It was a real team effort tonight and everyone was able to contribute to it. I am blessed with a great squad who want to work hard for one another on and off the field."
"We started the season knowing the backbone of last year's team was the defense and we did another great job tonight," he pointed out. "Through the last three matches we've conceded just one goal and it all starts with the keeper, and then the defenders - they are doing a fantastic job."
The Lady Flames fired 27 shots and had 11 on goal. Lee's strong defense limited the Bobcats to only six shots and just one was on target. Alexis Feely had seven saves for the losers; while Erin Olson posted one save in goal for the Lady Flames.
"I have to give Kiko (Lees McRae coach) credit. He has had an extremely tough schedule to start with, but his team was organized and competed for the full 90 minutes. I wish them all the best as they approach their conference opener," noted Hennessey.
Lee hits the road again for a 2 p.m. Sunday match at Lincoln Memorial University (Harrogate, Tenn.), another tallented Division II squad. Hennessey brings his team back to the Lee Soccer Field next Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. when they go up against No. 1-ranked Columbus State University.