In the opening Gulf South Conference game of the season, it was a fast start for the University of Alabama in Huntsville. They scored two goals in the first three minutes, and they never looked back as they defeated the Lee University lacrosse team 20-7 on Thursday afternoon.
Lee got outshot 37-20 in the contest as only four Lady Flames managed to find the back of the net. Hannah Vecsey led the way with three goals for Lee.
The first quarter was not a good quarter for Lee.
The Lady Flames only managed two shots while UAH had 14. The Chargers outscored Lee 6-0 in the first quarter. It was the first time Lee had been shutout in a period since the game against the University of Indianapolis February 25, 2023. Kaleigh Bernard did manage to have six saves in the first quarter.
Lee responded better in the second period. UAH earned the first goal of the quarter to go up 7-0 before Vecsey scored twice in 90 seconds to make it 7-2.. After another UAH goal, Brittney White had a putback shot for her first goal of the game. The Chargers had one more goal in the second on a free position shot. The last goal in the second came from Maggie Luzier with 1:49 left.
The third period belonged to UAH. They outscored the Lady Flames 7-2 in the 15-minute period. Hannah Vecsey scored her third goal, and Kamille Kremakau scored a goal a man up, however UAH led 16-6 after 45 minutes of action.
The fourth quarter had a running clock as the only goal for Lee came from Kremakau. UAH added four goals to get to 20.
The Lee University Tennis teams claimed a pair of 7-0 Gulf South Conference wins at Shorter University Thursday afternoon at the Walt Attaway Tennis Complex. The No. 26 Flames (8-1, 3-1 GSC) won their sixth consecutive match and posted its third straight shutout, while the Lady Flames (9-1, 4-1 GSC) ran their win streak to seven. The Hawks fell to 0-9 (0-8 GSC) and the Lady Hawks are now 1-9 (0-8 GSC).
Wihan van der Merwe and Jordi Dasi opened doubles play with a 6-2 defeat of Frederico Roman and Mario Molina-Mari. Francisco Faria and Filipe Krohn beat David Arrieta Gomez and Agustin Yap by the same score at No. 1 doubles to claim the doubles point. Mike and Quinn Groenendijk completed the sweep after edging Sebastian Gomez and Carlos Tublo 6-4 at No. 2 doubles.
The Flames took a 2-0 lead with van der Merwe, ranked No. 68 in singles, claiming a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles against Gamez. Dasi beat Tublo 6-1 and 6-4 at No. 3 singles. Faria dropped his opening set with Arrieta Gomez 6-3 before forcing a third set with a 6-3 second set win. The No. 75 ranked player completed the comeback and clinched the team victory with a 6-2 score in the third set.
Quinn Groenendijk won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 4 singles and Yike Liu won both sets against Roman 6-4 to continue the Lee momentum. Krohn completed the shutout with a 6-1, 6-3 won over Molina Mari.
Maria Penalver Aguilo and Kanna Kobayakawa blanked Amelie Fryer and Laura Martin 6-0 to open doubles action for the women. Elizaveta Gnilozubova and Mirjana Ragastovac held off Sydney Wright and Sharick Guiza Hernandez 6-4 to give the Lady Flames the doubles point. Ashleigh Simes and Maria Fernanda Duarte completed the sweep with a 7-5 margin against Sophie Rellano and Erin Coleman.
Simes dropped just one game to beat Rellano at No. 1 singles. Kanna shut out Coleman in the third position. Penalver Aguilo took down Guiza Hernandez 6-3, 6-1 to clinch the team victory.
Gnilozubova beat Martin 6-1 and 6-0 to continue the Lee momentum at No. 5 singles. Fernanda Duarte posted the same score at the fourth spot against Wright. Hayden Smith kept the shutout intact with a 6-0, 6-0 blanking of Danielle Hernandez.
The Flames and Lady Flames return home on Friday, April 5, to take on Auburn University at Montgomery. The GSC battle is set for 2 p.m. at the DeVos Tennis Center.
It was the lowest scoring game of the season for the Lady Flames as they fell to 7-6 overall, and 0-1 in GSC play. The Lady Flames will return to action on Sunday, April 7 as they will host Lander University at the Ray Conn Sports Complex.