Coach Chris Hennessey and his Lady Flames shared the glory in a 5-0 victory over visiting Auburn Montgomery at the Ray Conn Sports Complex on Friday evening. It marked the fourth straight shutout for the 19th-ranked Lee club and improved their record to 5-0-2 overall and 3-0 in the GSC standings. AUM slipped to 1-6-0, 0-3.
Things will likely get much tougher for the Lady Flames on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. when they host Montevallo. The Falcons are off to a 5-1-1 overall start and 2-0-1 in GSC play.
Things started slow for the Lady Flames in the opening 45 minutes.
It was a 1-0 margin thanks to a chipper over the outstretched arms of Warhawk keeper Karla Guzman-Ortiz by junior midfielder Ashley Eulo that put Lee out front. Alaysia Nye got the assist.
The scoring gates opened wider for Lee in the second 45 minutes. It all started as graduate assistant Kate Dirkse did her thing with a header off a corner kick by Avery Sides. It was Dirkse’s third goal of the year and also the third assist by Sides. The goal came in the 59th minute.
In the 63rd minute, Nye unleashed a missile from some 25 yards out that blasted into the back of the net. The unassisted goal was her fifth of the season. Just over three minutes later, with Coach Hennessey already emptying his bench, freshman Hailey Johnson got her first goal of the season. Eulo, who turned in another solid performance, added her second assist of the year.
The fifth and final score came at the 83:58 mark and was tallied by junior Sydnee Duncan. Her first goal of the year was assisted by Maddie Davis’ first assist. Injuries left the roster Lady Flames thin entering Friday night's contest, but Coach Hennessey did use seven players off the bench, and all played at least 20 minutes and most playing 35.
Again, it was the Lady Flames defense leading the charge, led by Dirkse, Sides, Jordan Blair, Juliana Lopes and Sophie Ramseur. Abby Whitcomb played in goal during the first half for Lee and had one save. Josie Taylor played the second 45 minutes and had a save. All totaled, the Lee defense only allowed the Warhawks four shots and two were on goal.
The Lady Flames fired 14 shots and were accurate with eight attempts. Guzman-Ortiz was listed with three saves. Lee had four corner kicks and AUM three. The Lady Flames were whistled for 11 fouls and the Warhawks eight.