CARROLLTON, Ga. – Coach Chris Hennessey and his Lee women's soccer team put their first official Gulf South Conference (GSC) victory in the record books on a rainy Friday afternoon when Morgan Sandifer zipped in an unassisted goal at the 86:06 mark to give the Lady Flames the 1-0 victory over the University of West Georgia.
"Going into halftime the result in my opinion wasn't a fair reflection of the game.Hennessey noted. "However, I saw something different out of the team second half, a hunger and desire that I hadn't seen so far this season. Everyone stepped up, dug deep and found a way to grind the result out. It is a good win for our girls. They showed so much courage the entire match."
The shot chart spells out what the first-year head coach was saying. His Lady Flames outshot the West Georgia club 14-7. They had four shots on goal to three for the losers. In fact the Lee defense held the host to only three shots the entire second half. Haley Gribler picked up three saves in the win while West Georgia keeper Katie Miklausich also had three saves in the loss. Both sides registered three corner kicks.
Sandifer's winning goal was her only shot of the contest and it could not have come at a better time as the contest appeared headed for a certain overall and the Lady Flames had already been involved in a couple of those this season. "I was pleased with our performance throughout the majority of the game,"said the coach. "I felt we passed the ball with pace and purpose, especially in the second half."
The victory improved Lee's record to 1-1 in the GSC and 2-3-2 overall. West Georgia drops to 2-2 in league play and 4-4 overall. The Lady Flames will return to the Lee Soccer Field on Sunday afternoon and play host to Valdosta State University in a 2 p.m. GSC contest. "We will have to come prepared ready to battle for another 90 minutes," said Hennessey in closing.
NOTE: Senior Laura Thacker received an injury to the head area that required stitches, but coach Hennessey feels certain his standout defender will be back in action on Sunday.
