Alexis Hale scored her first goal as a Lady Flame to get the scoring started Friday night.
Playing on Kickin’ It for Kids with Cancer night is always special for the Lee University women’s soccer team. They celebrated on Friday evening by opening Gulf South Conference play and improving to 4-0 on the year with a 4-1 victory over visiting Union University at the Ray Conn Sports Complex.
“It’s always special to be able to celebrate with the kids,” said Lee coach Chris Hennessey after the evening was completed. “We played good enough to win and that was important but tonight was also about something very special.
I want to thank our community for its support and for the way the people have always turned for this event. Now we must get ready for a very good Christian Brothers team on Sunday afternoon (1 p.m.) at the Lee Soccer Field.”
As in the past three victories the Lady Flames wasted no time in grabbing the lead. Alexis Hale rebounded a shot off the post and placed it into the open net at the 8:49 mark. Riley Henry was credited with the assist.
The Lady Flames went up 2-0 in the 32nd minute when Sage Sammeli took a pass from Avery Engels at midfield and won a one-on-one battle with the Union goalkeeper. Just over four minutes later (36:04) the Lady Flames took a 3-0 lead at the half-time break when Mallory Hayden delivered a corner kick into the box and Kate Dirkse tallied off a header into the net.
The final Lee score came early in the second half (61:03) when Ellie Crisler collected an unassisted goal. The Lady Bulldogs’ only goal came in the 69th minute when Hannah Patterson scored on a penalty kick.
The Lady Flames fired 21 shots and had 10 on target. Union used a pair of goalkeepers. Bryson Lee worked the first 45 minutes and Rylee Iorio the final 45. Both were credited with three saves each. As usual the Lady Flames’ solid midfield and backs held the Lady Bulldogs to only five shots and three were on goal. Haleigh Holland (69:56) got the win and allowed a goal while getting two saves. Mollie Wheeler worked 20:04 in the second half.
Lee was awarded six corner kicks and Union two, but the Lady Flames were whistled for 11 fouls and the Lady Bulldogs seven.