The Lee men's soccer team saw its season come to an end in heartbreaking fashion, conceding two late goals to Christian Brothers in a 2-1 loss in the Gulf South Conference Quarterfinals at the Ray Conn Sports Complex Sunday afternoon.

The Flames struck first on a fitting culmination to Eemeli Makela's career as he fired home his seventh goal of the season from 25 yards out into the top right corner of the net in the 29^th minute. Makela was named to the All-GSC First Team earlier this week with teammates Fabian Navarro and Jeremy Bischoff.

Lee would take the lead into the halftime break but failed to match the execution of the Bucs in the second 45.

CBU outshot the Flames, 11-2 in the second half and after many close calls finally found the elusive equalizer in the 87^th minute as Hata Kazuyuki scored off a free kick from Brian Torre.

Lee was never able to recover and conceded the winning goal just 24 seconds later as Lucho Galizzi found Ryoya Yoshikawa in front of the goal to stun the Flames and the home crowd.

Sam Keener, one of 12 seniors playing his final match with the Flames, recorded four saves while allowing the two late goals. Max Klink, named to the All-GSC Second Team, earned the victory as he tallied three saves for the Bucs.

"I'm so incredibly proud of this senior class," said Lee head coach Derek Potteiger. "I get emotional when I think about all they have given to our program. They came at various different times over the last five years, but they all have made a lasting impact on our program. I hate that this is how the season ends but that's what happens in sports sometimes. It doesn't seem like a fitting ending for all we've accomplished together but credit to CBU they outplayed us in the second half and it showed up there at the very end."

The Flames end the season at 9-4-2. The win propels Christian Brothers to 10-2-5 and a trip to the GSC Semifinals on Thursday evening in Huntsville, Ala. This marks the first year since 2018 the Flames will not be in the GSC Championship match.