Gabe Franco provided the only goal of the match Friday night as the Lee University men's soccer team ended its two-match losing streak with a 1-0 defeat of visiting Delta State University. The Flames improved to 7-4-2 overall and 2-2-1 in the Gulf South Conference (GSC). The Statesmen dropped to 1-4-0 in the GSC and 4-8-0 overall.
Franco's goal came in the 32
nd minute off of one of Lee's seven corner kicks of the match. David Perez was credited with the assist.
"Gabe's goal was big and often times, in games like this, it comes down to set pieces," said Lee head coach Paul Furey
The two squads fought toe-to-toe throughout the game with neither side gaining a large advantage in any one statistical area. Delta State held a slight edge in shots (16-14) and corner kicks (9-7). Both teams put seven shots on goal, but the Flames were able to get one into the back of the net.
"This was a tough game," admitted Furey." They really made us work for it. Tommy (Halsall) played very in goal again to secure the shutout and our defense was solid. But one of the ways you earn a shutout is by maintaining good possession of the ball throughout the game and I thought we did a pretty good job with that."
Halsall tallied seven saves on his way to registering his fourth clean sheet of the season. DSU's Jonathan Hilton recorded six saves in the loss.
The Flames remain at home to face Mississippi College on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. It will be senior day for the men as they plan to recognize their senior members on their last home date of the regular season.
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