Tweet #flamenation

Battling through two overtime periods the Lee men's soccer team opened up Gulf South Conference (GSC) play with a 0-0 draw against West Florida on Friday night at the Lee soccer field.

The Flames had plenty of opportunities to break the scoreless tie after the Argonauts were forced to play a man down in the 33^rd minute of the match. West Florida defender Japhet Bitsindou was carded after he took down Flames' forward David Perez, who had a clear path to the goal.

In the second period West Florida loaded up the box to keep the Flames off the board and force overtime. Lee outshot the Argos 14-10 in regulation but couldn't find the elusive goal.

"After the man was sent off they put a lot guys back behind the ball and made it very difficult to break the final line," said head coach Paul Furey. "They looked to simply counter-attack which they do very well with a couple of very skilled players."

The turning point came just one minute into the first overtime period as Lee was awarded a penalty kick after a foul in the box on West Florida was whistled. The Flames called on Gabe Franco to take the kick but the junior defender was denied on an outstretched save by Argonauts' keeper Andre Moreira.

"We got a couple of combinations late in the match and had a great opportunity with the PK but just didn't convert and that's how it goes sometimes," noted Furey. "I thought we had control for the most part, which we should have playing a man up."

The Flames would coming knocking just moments later on a shot by Jonathan Finley but once again Moreira was up for the test.

Furey's club outshot West Florida 19-10. The Flames placed seven shots on frame and earned six corner kicks while the Argonauts had five shots on goal and managed three corners, all of which came in the overtime periods.

Lee goalkeeper Tom Halsall kept his second straight clean sheet and registered five saves. Moreira stepped up with seven saves, none bigger than the penalty kick save in the first overtime period.

"When the ball for the most part is in your attacking half it can be easy to fall asleep defensively on the counter but I thought we did a good job of limiting their chances," said Furey. "Tommy (Halsall) and the back line played well and they do a lot for us, not just defensively but also on the attack as well."

You might say overtime was in the cards from the outset when Lee and West Florida get together. The two clubs played two overtime matches last season. Lee fell 1-0 in overtime at home before traveling to Pensacola, Fla. to earn a 1-1 draw.

The tie moves Lee to 5-2-2 on the year and 0-0-1 in the GSC while West Florida sits at 3-2-2 and 2-0-1 in conference.

The Flames will get right back on the pitch on Sunday when they host GSC-newcomer Spring Hill College at 3:30 p.m.

"Spring Hill has a new coach and they like to control possession and move the ball around so we will have to play well on Sunday to get the decision we want," Furey concluded.