Box Score
The defending NCAA Division II national champion lived up to its billing in the final night of the Olive Garden Invitational played at the Lee Soccer Field on Saturday evening.
Ranked No.1 again this season, the Lynn University Fighting Knights did not allow the Lee Flames a single shot on goal. In fact, the Lynn defense only gave up two shots to the battling Flames over the entire 90 minute affair. The end result was a 2-0 loss for coach Paul Furey's club.
On the other hand, Lynn played a controlled, field position game and attempted 18 shots, placing seven on target. Lee goalie Tom Halsall, who was named the Olive Garden Defensive Player of the tourney, had five saves.
"Of course we hate to lose, but we can take some postive things out of the match," said Furey. "We really moved the ball well through the back and the middle. We closed things down well defensively. We made a few mistakes and Lynn made us pay for it."
The Fighting Knights got on the board at the 9:39 mark when Yannick Braeuer slipped a shot past Halsall. Anthony Desperito got the assist. Desperito, who was named the tourney MVP, scored the final goal of the night. The tally came after Halsall had batted away two attempts, but Desperito grabbed the rebound and placed it into the back of the net. Jake Furman of Lynn claimed the tournament's Most Valuable Offensive Player award.
"We need to improve in the final third," Furey added. "But overall we are heading in the right direction and I like what I am seeing at this point as we head into conference play."
NOTES - Josh Ball and Robbie Cutchin got off the only shots against the Lynn defenders. Desperito, a D2 All-American, fired 11 of Lynn's 18 shots. He placed five on target. Corner kicks were not an issue, each team had only three. The Flames (1-1) will play their first Gulf South Conference match next Friday, traveling to Jackson, Tenn. and facing Union University. Lee returns home on Sept. 20 and will host Memphis Christian Brothers University. In the opening game of Saturday's card, Shorter and King battled for two overtimes before settling for a 3-3 tie.
