Excitement is the best way to describe the Lee men's soccer team as Coach Derek Potteiger sends his Flames into the quarterfinal round of the GSC Championship on Tuesday at 5:30. The fourth-seeded Flames (5-3-3 GSC, 9-4-4 overall) will host Christian Brothers (5-5-1, 7-8-1). Lee defeated CBU 4-1 on Oct. 20.
COACH POTTEIGER'S VIEW ON TOURNAMENT: "We are all excited about the game tomorrow. This is what we were thinking about the entire off-season, and this was the focal point of what we were pursuing throughout this season. To have reached the post-season and to be hosting for the first time in a number of years is a very good accomplishment and one that we want to give our very best for.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: "Christian Brothers is a very solid team. They have a couple of game-changers but beyond that they have a very good group from top to bottom. We won this same (quarterfinal) game against them last year at their place, so they will come determined in every way to return the favor this year. Beyond that, the conditions will be quite tough to play in, but both teams will have to deal with it, and it will be a game of who can capture their moments," said Coach Potteiger.
ABOUT THE WEATHER: After a sunny Monday afternoon, the WEATHER CHANNEL says things will change quickly this evening with 100 percent chance of rain and maybe snow with the temperature dropping to the freezing mark. A high is expected to reach 36 degrees on Tuesday with a 20 percent chance of precipitation. The wind will be blowing around 15 mph out of the north and before Tuesday night ends, the temperature could drop to 18 degrees.
TOURNAMENT BRACKET: Mississippi College is the No. 1 seed and will face No. 8 Union University. Auburn Montgomery in its first official year of the GSC has earned the No. 2 seed and will welcome Alabama Huntsville. The No. 3 seed goes to West Florida. The Argos will be pitted against the defending 2018 champions, Spring Hill College. All four winners of the quarterfinals will advance to semifinal play in Pensacola, Florida on Nov. 15-17.
CHECKING THE STATS: Junior Jared McWhorter paces the Flames in scoring with seven goals and two assists. Senior Tristan Lyle has planted five shots into the back of the net. Sophomore Eemeli Makela has stepped up for his teammates by delivering four assists. Senior goalkeeper Daniel Hrenko is wrapping up an outstanding four-year career. This season he has recorded 46 saves and allowed only 15 goals in posting an 8-4-4 win/loss mark.
