MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Sitting just five minutes from a trip to the GSC Championship the Lee men's soccer team saw a 2-1 lead over top-seeded Spring Hill College swing to a stunning 3-2 loss in the waning minutes of Friday's semifinal match from the Emory Folmar Soccer Complex.
The Badgers used a flurry of three second half goals, including two in the final five minutes of regulation, to overcome a two score deficit.
The game-winning goal came off a long throw by Jack LaForge into the box that Lee could not clear eventually finding the foot of Donte Oliver for his second score of the match. Luca Carrese headed the throw over to Oliver who slipped it past Lee keeper Daniel Hrenko to break the hearts of the Flames in the 89
th minute.
Just three minutes earlier the Badgers stole the momentum from the Flames with a game-tying goal off the head of Oliver. Tilman Schober was credited with the assist.
Jared McWhorter gave the Flames a 2-0 advantage as he scored off a penalty kick at the 50:33 mark.
The two-goal advantage would be short-lived however as just 1:12 later the Badgers broke through for their first score as Alexander Lipinski slipped past his defender and connected off a pass from Diogo Sousa.
Samaan Williams got the Flames on the board first with a goal at the 24:55 mark to account for the only scoring in the first 45. Williams scored the only goal in Lee's 1-0 quarterfinal victory at Christian Brothers on Tuesday and finishes the year with a team-leading eight scores.
Lee junior keeper Daniel Hrenko kept the dangerous Badgers off the board in the first half but allowed three second half goals while finishing the contest with four saves. Spring Hill keeper Barou Ndaw tallied six saves in the contest.
Coach Derek Potteiger's squad held a 16-12 advantage in shots and 8-7 edge in shots on goal. Both clubs earned four corner kicks.
The Flames second season under Potteiger ends with a final record of 9-7-3. Spring Hill improves to 16-1 and advances on to the GSC Championship match on Sunday for a showdown against No. 2 seed West Florida. The Argonauts defeated Alabama Huntsville earlier in the evening on penalty kicks.
