Kelsey Yoder's second straight postseason goal sends Lee to GSC Finals.
The Lee women’s soccer team will be making its third trip over the last five years to the Gulf South Conference championship game. The Lady Flames advanced late Friday evening with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over top-seeded Mississippi College.
Lee will face the University of Montevallo on Sunday at 4 p.m. (EST). The Falcons and West Florida battled to a 2-2 draw in regulation and two overtimes. Montevallo advanced by winning the penalty kicks.
Junior Kelsey Yoder slipped past the Lady Choctaws defender and picked up an assist from freshman Kate Dirkse in the 21st minute.
Yoder’s third goal of the year sailed into the lower left corner past Mississippi College goalkeeper Gabby Kayser. It was also Dirkse’s first career assist at Lee.
The Lee win snapped a 15-game winning streak by the Lady Choctaws. They had not lost since Saint Leo beat Mississippi College in the season opener. The Lady Flames avenged a 3-1 defeat to the Lady Choctaws on Oct. 4. Lee will take a 16-4 record into Sunday’s game.
“We beat a very good Mississippi College team tonight,” said Lee’s very proud head coach Chris Hennessey. “We rode out periods of pressure and our girls showed a lot of determination and grit. I can’t say enough for the effort they put forth. It was a long day as our game was delayed for over an hour after the Montevallo and West Florida game went into penalty kicks.”
The Lady Choctaws put three shots on goal in the first half but Lee keeper Taylor Green turned away all three shots. The Lee defense would allow the Lady Choctaws only two shots on goal in the final 45 minutes and Green was there for two saves. The Lady Choctaws finished with 11 shots, five on target.
All totaled, Lee fired only seven shots and had three on goal. Mallory Hayden and Riley Henry joined Yoder with shots on goal. The Lady Flames did not have a corner kick over the 90 minutes and Mississippi College was awarded one in the first half and three in the second stanza. Lee was whistled for eight fouls in the rugged battle and the Lady Choctaws four.
“Right now our girls are tired mentally and physically but we have 24 hours to rest, relax and start preparing for Sunday. We are pleased to be playing in the championship game against Montevallo,” concluded Hennessey. The Falcons defeated the Lady Flames 3-1 on Oct. 25 in a pouring rain storm.