One thing will be for sure on Sunday afternoon when Lee University hosts Valdosta State University in the quarterfinal round of the Gulf South Conference Soccer Championship at the Ray Conn Sports Complex (1 p.m.), the contest will not end in a tie!
The Lady Flames completed GSC play with a 6-2-4 record and finished the regular season with a 6-4-6 total. The six ties are a new Lee women’s soccer record. Statistics show the current program has had more ties this season than any other single year in school history.
Last season’s team had four ties and the 2022 club held the old mark which was five.
When Lee first-year Coach Lee Hughes was asked about the college rule of no overtimes during the regular season, he said, “I know of at least four of those ties this year we dominated the game. I think if we have overtime, we probably go on to win the game. But, we also created enough in those games to turn them into wins within the 90 minutes.”
“Honestly, using a deep roster is more about management of the team and being able to be as fresh as possible at the latest part in the season,” pointed out the coach.
Eleven players have taken part in all 16 games. It is a squad that is made up of six seniors and three graduate students that have bonded together with six juniors, four sophomores, seven freshmen and a new coach to go against a Valdosta State team they battled to a 1-1 draw three days ago.
Lee’s defense which is led by the play of seniors Katie Wilson, Jordan Blair, juniors Avery Sides and goalkeeper Abby Whitcomb, has allowed only 15 goals in 16 games.
“Yeah, there is always some luck in it (scoring),” allowed Coach Hughes. “Again, we have created such good opportunities to score in most if not all of our ties which changes a lot for us. But to be fair I think you create your own luck, we just need to be better in front of the goal.”
Coach Hughes said his staff has been pushing his midfielders and forwards hard. “We have been pushing them hard and training this area a lot and will keep doing so as we come into post season.”
Junior midfielder Grace Berry has come on strong and paces the team with five goals and one assist. Blair and Sides have been relentless from the back line and have stepped up with two goals and an assist each. Junior forward Alaysia Nye and midfielder Isabella Valentine have also chipped in with a pair of scores while five other players have added one goal to Lee’s 18 total season attack.
“We played a good game at Valdosta State,” proclaimed Coach Hughes. “We should have scored two goals in the opening 15 minutes, which changes the game dramatically for us.
“In the second half the girls played great and again did enough to score goals to win the game, but we just need to keep getting better in this area! Honestly, I am excited for this team (to be playing Valdosta State again). They have been through a lot this season and I think it prepared us for this type of moment.”
“I think if it’s my first year, tenth year or fifth season, the most important thing is that we are getting better. If we do that we will be in Huntsville. We have had two days to prepare for Sunday which means two days to get better and the girls are excited for it!” Coach Hughes said bluntly in closing.
Courtesy of Hardees, there is no admission charge to Sunday’s game.
The 2024 Gulf South Conference Women's Soccer Championship will begin with quarterfinals on November 10 with the top four-seeds hosting. The semifinals and championship matches will then be hosted by the Huntsville Sports Commission on November 15 and 17, respectively, and will be played at Loretta P. Spencer Sports Complex Championship Field in Huntsville, Ala.