Eemeli Makela
The Lee University men’s soccer team gave up two first half goals and couldn’t comeback to drop their second contest of the season to Auburn University Montgomery on Friday evening by a final score of 3-2. The Flames fall to 5-2-1 while AUM improves to 3-3-2 on the year.
The Flames got on the board first in the 30th minute. Eemali Makela received a pass from Fabian Navarro and he slotted it into the back of the net.
Less than a minute later, Aristarchus Oluwatuyi snuck the equalizer into the goal for AUM.
The Warhawks then took the lead three minutes later when Oluwatuyi scored again to give them the lead at 2-1.
AUM added a third goal in the 70th after a penalty kick was scored by Renan Diniz. Lee was then awarded their own penalty kick in the 81st minute and Makela scored again to make it 3-2. The Flames then took a barrage of shots in the last five minutes but could not find the equalizer.
The Flames were outshot by the Warhawks 14-12 and both teams had six shots on goal. Makela and Caio Arantes each earned a yellow card while the Warhawks earned three.
“I am proud of our boys battling, said Head Coach Derek Potteiger. “It was very physical and not a pretty game. Now we need to turn our attention to Shaw on Monday.”
The two goals from Makela now give him a team leading four goals on the season. Meanwhile Navarro’s assist gives him six on the season and he leads the Gulf South Conference in that category.
It is the second straight loss for Lee to AUM. The Flames last win over the Warhawks was in 2018. In 2019 and 2020 both matches ended in 0-0 ties.
The Flames will return home to play their final non-conference game of the season. Lee will host Shaw University on Monday, September 26 at 7 PM at the Ray Conn Sports Complex in Cleveland.