Box Score
It took a penalty kick by Gabe Franco in the 72nd minute to help allow the Lee men's soccer team the opportunity to turn back Union University 2-1 in the final game of the Olive Garden Invitational on Saturday evening on the Lee Soccer Field.

The extremely physical contest was tied at 1-1 when Quade Marinell was fouled in the box. Franco wasted no time in stepping up to nail the PK and help give the Flames the championship for the second time over the past three years. Thursday's win over Tennessee Temple combined with Saturday's triumph gives the Flames a 2-0 start. They will hit the road for the first time on Tuesday, traveling to Dayton to challenge another rival in Bryan College.

"It was great to win the Olive Garden Invitational again this year," said Lee head coach Paul Furey. "It is a good start to our season, but the road get rougher as we go. "We have a very tough three-game week ahead of us, all on the road."

With just under eight minutes remaining in the first half, the Flames grabbed a 1-0 halftime lead on an unassisted goal by Travis Kiger. He picked up a loose ball at the top of the box and drilled it into the far corner of the net.

But the Bulldogs fought back to tie the score at 1 on a goal by Paul Langford in the 66 minute. Nil Cierco claimed the assist. "I really liked our composure in the physical match and how we did not get rattled when they equalized," explained Furey.

The veteran coach praised the work of Marinell, who was named the invitational MVP. "Quade had a great weekend with a goal and a couple of assists in two games. He also created the penalty kick for the game winner."

Lee had 12 shots and put four on goal. Union had 13 shots and put four on target. Matt Kesler had two saves in the loss and Lee keeper Tom Halsall registered three. The Flames were awarded three corner kicks and the Bulldogs had one.