CLEVELAND, Tenn.-On a cool and windy Sunday afternoon at the Ray Conn Sports Complex, the Lee women's soccer team remained undefeated and pushed their record to 10-0-3 overall, 8-0-1 in GSC with a very physical 1-0 victory over the University of West Georgia.
It was the Lee defense that took care of business again as it posted its third straight shutout. Eight of the Lady Flames' 10 victories this season have come when they have held their opponents scoreless. Sunday's win was sparked by the play of Juliana Lopes, Katie Wilson, Avery Sides, Hailey Johnson, Kate Dirkse and Jordan Blair. The solid play limited the Wolves to only six shots the entire afternoon and two were on goal. Lee keeper Abby Whitcomb was credited with one save.
After play was delayed for over 30 minutes when one of the game officials was stuck in traffic, the Lady Flames scored the game's only goal in the 19th minute (19:12). The unusual score came when West Georgia keeper Haley Brinkman misplayed her kick out of goal, and it went squarely to Lee's Amelya Jacobs some 15 yards away. The freshman blasted her shot directly into the net for her fourth goal of the season.
All totaled, Lee fired 13 shots in the hard-fought battle and placed seven on target. Jacobs had three on goal, Alaysia Nye fired a pair at the goal, Ruth Edrington and Grace Berry each had one on target. Wolves' keeper Brinkman was able to turn away six Lee shots on goal.
Each team had their fair share of corner kicks. Lee had four in each half for a total of eight while the Wolves registered three in the first stanza and two in the second. The rugged contest saw the Lady Flames whistled for 12 fouls, but West Georgia had only five. Lee also picked up one yellow card.
Lee will travel to Mississippi for its next two contests. The Lady Flames will face Delta State on Friday at 2 p.m. A key battle with rival Mississippi College will take place next Sunday at 2 p.m. in Clinton, Miss. The Choctaws stand at 7-2 and in third place in the GSC standings.
Coach Chris Hennessey's Thoughts:
I think for me is the hardest weekend in the GSC because both Valdosta State and West Georgia are really good teams. What I liked it was a battle today. It was a Sunday game it's kind of in the crux of the season where there's some fatigue setting in and just trying to find that that balance there."
"I thought we were okay.I didn't think we were anywhere near our best and credit to West Georgia. I thought they had a good game plan we looked a little bit slowbut at the end of the day we've granted a result and I'm really pleased with the win."
"They're working really hard. I mean, I'm so proud of the work ethic. We're not conceding goals, you know, defensively as a team and we're creating chances. I think we're leaving too many on the table per se. But I think with the mentality, trying to be resilient, have patience, and have a defend first mentality, we're finding results and finding games."
