It will likely be a defensive battle when the Lee women's soccer team, 8-0-1 and ranked No. 2 by the United Women's Soccer Association, faces Delta State University, 6-1-1 and ranked 17th in the semifinal round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament on Saturday (1 p.m.) at the Hoover, Alabama MET Turf Complex.
The Lady Flames remained unbeaten with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Christian Brothers University this past Sunday. At the same time Delta State advanced with a 1-0 victory over Montevallo University. Lee has outscored its opponents 21-5 this season while the Lady Statesmen have tallied 20 goals and given up just five.
The Lady Flames allowed two goals for the only time in a 2-2 contest with Valdosta State on April 25. Delta State surrendered two goals in a 2-1 loss to rival Mississippi College in its overtime final regular season game. The winner of the Lee, Delta State affair will face the outcome of Mississippi College and West Alabama on Saturday, April 3 at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Alabama.
It took some back and forth talk between Lee and Delta before the Hoover site was selected. "We haven't played on this field before, so it will be a new environment for both teams," said Coach Chris Hennessey when asked about the neutral site.
The Lady Statesmen are directed by first-year Coach Mark Hiller. The Englishman, who has coached at all levels since coming over to America several years ago, has quickly turned Delta into a ranked program. "I have not watched Delta much yet," admitted Hennessey earlier in the week. "Given the season they have had thus far, we know that we will have to be at our best on Saturday when we face them. They are a much-improved team, and their results speak for themselves."
The Lee coach adds, "We have to be more clinical in the final third of the field than we were against Christian Brothers. We are missing moments in and around the goal and need to make sure we execute in these situations on Saturday."
Hennessey said his freshman class has played a significant part throughout the whole season. "I know they are ready and comfortable to step in at any moment." Freshman Ruth Edrington scored the winning goal in last week's 1-0 win against Christian Brothers and was named the GSC Freshman of the Week. Over the season Edrington has nine total points, four goals and one assist. Senior Kelsey Yoder has tallied five goals for a 10-point total. The pair has dominated much of the Lee scoring.
Delta State is led by senior Diana Okechukwu who has tallied six goals and dished off an assist for 13 points. Freshman Nicole Hauk follows with three goals for a total of six points while sophomore Rylee McGee and senior Mia Ramirez have also stepped up. McGee has a pair of goals and one assist and Ramirez, one goal and three assists.
