JACKSON, Tenn. – The Lee men's soccer team started slow and never recovered in losing 3-1 at Union University in the second round of the Gulf South Conference Spring Playoffs on Sunday evening.

The Flames conceded just 35 seconds into the match as William Valencia connected on the goal to give the Bulldogs the early advantage. Union would bookend the half with a score in the 45^th minute as Jacob Phelps and Kenny Nitzsche set up Gavin Scott for his third goal of the season.

"That performance today, especially in the first half, surprised me," admitted Lee head coach Derek Potteiger. "It was our eighth different starting lineup in eight games this season, and so we weren't coming off a string of consistent game peformances but we had a great week of training, the trip out here was energizing for the group and we looked mentally focused in warmup. And then we played a terrible first 45 minutes. We gifted them a goal 35 seconds into the game, and then played passively and naively for the rest of the half."

Trailing 2-0 the Flames came out in the second half and wasted little time cutting into the deficit as Mattia Balzano found the back of the net for his first career goal as a Flame just 44 seconds into the second half. The goal was set up by Jared McWhorther, the 2019 GSC Offensive Player of the Year, who is coming off an offseason injury.

"We came out in the second half a bit of a different team and got the early goal, but at 2-1 whoever scored the next goal usually take the game and they took it," said Potteiger.

The Bulldogs would put the game away with a key insurance goal in the 61^st minute as Valencia connected on his second goal of the match. Alpay Aluntas was credited with the assist.

"It was the most challenging season I have ever had to manage as a college coach and so I know we will all grow from this season heading into the fall," acknowledged Potteiger. "I'm grateful we don't have to wait a whole year for the next opportunity and can get back at it in August."

The Flames end the shortened Spring Season at 1-2-2 and will now turn their attention to defending their 2019 GSC Championship in the Fall.