It could very well go down as one of the most unusual contests ever staged at the Lee Soccer Field. The Lady Flames and visiting Newberry College battled through a 90-minute lightning delay and two overtimes before settling for a 1-1 draw.
The Lady Flames (0-2-1) scored their only goal of the contest 18 minutes deep into the first half when Summer Lanter drilled a shot off the right post and into the back of the net. Mia Hollingsworth was credited with the assist.Â
The rain and lightning came with just over nine minutes remaining in the first half and the long delay was underway. When play resumed, Lee held a 1-0 margin going into the break.Â
Newberry wasted no time in tying the contest in the second stanza. With less than four minutes gone off the scoreboard clock in the final 45 minutes of regulation play, Michelle Calmeyn connected on a direct kick from the top of the box and the shot slipped past Lee keeper Haley Gribler.Â
The Lady Flames dominated the remainder of regulation play and the two 10-minute overtime periods. Coach Chris Hennessey's club fired 47 shots before the long night ended. Seventeen of the shots were placed on goal. On the other side, Newberry could manage just four shots and had three on goal. In the second half, the Lady Flames out-shot the visitors 21-1 and in the double OT ripped 10 shots and allowed their opponent only two.
Newberry goalkeeper Alexis Carrillo was outstanding during her 110 minutes in goal. She registered a remarkable 16 saves. "We made her look good at times," admitted Hennessey. "We had several shots hit the post and missed on several other opportunities. I think our girls thought they had this game won before it ever started."
Lee was awarded seven corner kicks and Newberry garnered four. Gribler registered two saves for the Lady Flames. Lee had seven players play the entire 110 minutes, including Gribler, Katie Cloud, Laura Thacker, Morgan Standifer, Kinsey Cichowitz, Hollingsworth and Lanter.Â
Lee will have very little time to rest and regroup. Hennessey will bring his club back into action at the Lee Soccer Field on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. when Lincoln Memorial University comes calling.
Coach Hennessey quotes:
Â
"Although we drew tonight given the way the game went it felt like a loss."Â
"I can't remember a team hitting the post or crossbar so many times in the past three games it sometimes feels like there is a curse in front of the goal."
"I was happy with our intensity and the way we played the game – again I cannot fault the effort and work rate of the team, we just need some luck in front of the goal and somethings to fall our way."
"We have to regroup quickly for Sunday and come out with the same mentality and hunger."
