Kelsey Yoder’s first goal of the season played big dividends for the Lady Flames on Thursday evening against host and previously undefeated University of North Georgia.
With less than two minutes showing on the scoreboard clock, Yoder, a sophomore from Zionsville, Ind., knocked a free kick into the bottom left corner of the net from just outside the 18. The dramatic goal gave Lee a 3-2 win over the No. 18 Nighthawks.
The Lady Flames improved to 2-0-1 overall and will host rival Carson-Newman College on the Lee Soccer Field on Saturday at 7 p.m.
North Georgia falls to 2-1. It was also Lee’s fourth straight victory over the Nighthawks.
“It was a resilient performance and we showed a lot of maturity. We defended extremely well. Now we have to recover and get ready for another battle on Saturday,” said Lee head coach Chris Hennessey.
The Nighthawks outshot the Lady Flames 22-15. They placed 15 shots on goal and Lee had seven shots on frame. Lee red-shirt junior keeper Taylor Green turned in an outstanding performance in net. The Ooltewah native was credited with 13 saves. Nighthawks keeper Hannah Goudy had four.
Devin Healy, a junior from Loudon, Tenn., set the scoring pace in the Lady Flames victory. Her first of two scores came early in the contest (6:38). The Nighthawks rallied back to tie the hotly contested battle at the 21:34 mark on Taylor Malasek’s tally.
Healy’s second goal of the game (third score on the year) put Lee back on top 2-1 when her unassisted goal sailed into the lower right corner of the net. The margin looked secure until the Lady Flames were whistled for a foul inside the box in the 78th minute and Rosie Embley nailed the PK.
The Lady Flames celebrated after Yoder’s free kick was a thing of beauty as it hooked into the back of the net. “I was very proud of the team tonight,” commented Hennessey. “UNG is an excellent team and very well coached by Chris (Adams).”