The Lee University women's soccer team tallied three goals in the final 36 minutes to defeat Mississippi College, 3-1, Friday evening at the Lee Soccer Field and clinch a spot in the upcoming Gulf South Conference (GSC) Tournament. The Lady Flames improved to 11-2-1 overall (8-1 GSC), while the Lady Choctaws fell to 9-4-1 and 6-2-1 in league play.
"I was extremely proud of our response in the second half," said Lee head coach Chris Hennessey. "We played with more urgency, character and commitment."
The Lady Flames remain in second behind West Florida (9-0) and just ahead of West Alabama (7-2-1) as the regular season begins to wind down. Lee hosts Delta State University Sunday at 2 p.m. in its regular season home finale, when the Lady Flames will honor seniors Kinsey Cichowitz and Kaela Leskovar.
Mississippi College grabbed the early lead with a one-timer by Emma Claire Furman of a Kyra Montes pass in the 20
th minute. The visitors would carry that 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
"It was a battle the whole game and in the first half I felt like we didn't match their intensity and hunger," added Hennessey. "We needed a response in the second half and got one. I think what really set the tone for us in the second half was the way we committed to winning the ball back and this started up front with our forwards. We knew at halftime we were not matching them physically and had to compete better in certain areas of the field, and I felt like we did."
It would take the Lady Flames nearly 10 minutes into the second half to find the equalizer. Mia Hollingsworth sent a long looping shot from 35 yards out on the wing over the MC goalkeeper to knot the score at 1-1.
A little over 12 minutes later, Summer Lanter beat her defender on the wing and crossed the ball into the box where a waiting Cichowitz headed the ball into the back of the net for the eventual game-winner. It was Cichowitz's team-leading 11
th goal of the season.
Lauren Peters put the game on ice in the 85
th minute when she collected the rebound of McKenzie Bricker's saved shot and pushed it across the goal line. Bricker was credited with the assist.
"We are very happy with the result. Mississippi College are a very good team and well coached, but today we had to be resilient and fight in order to win the game," said Hennessey.
Mississippi College fired 10 total shots and put four on frame, while Lee was able to put seven of its nine shots on goal.
Haley Gribler recorded three saves to push her record to 7-2-1. Andrea McDonald posted four saves in defeat.
"Tonight was about more than soccer. It was so nice to see the kids from Hatch's House make the effort to come and support us," summed up Hennessey.
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