HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The tournament ended for Lee University in the semifinal round of the Gulf South Conference Women's Soccer Championship being staged at the John Hunt Soccer Complex on Friday evening. Top-seeded University of West Florida displayed a fast and physical attack in handing the Lady Flames a 3-0 defeat. It was only the second time all season that the Lee team had given up three goals.
With the win, the Argonauts (13-1-3) advanced to the championship round.
The Argonauts held Lee to only three shots in the opening half and gained a 1-0 lead. A well-executed goal came at the 34:36 mark of the contest. Gabriel Clarke delivered a perfect cross in from the left side and it was powered home into the bottom of the right corner on a header by Mya Swinton.
The second West Florida goal came with the scoreboard showing 62:57 in the second half. Emma Beltz left-footed her shot from outside the box into the right corner of the net. The score was assisted by Julieta Limardo.
The final Argonaut goal came at the 77:27 mark. With Lee keeper Abby Whitcomb pulled outside the net, Limardo executed a perfect one-on-one move, dribbled past the keeper, and tapped in the goal. Kaylyn Larsen was given credit for the assist.
After getting only three shots in the opening half, Lee finished with 12 for the game and had five on goal. Ashley Eulo had one shot on target. Kassidy Kellett took three shots and placed one on target. Grace Berry was 1-for-1. Isabella Valentine was credited with three shots and one on the mark while Jordan Blair fired two shots and had one on goal. Alaysia Nye and Sydnee Duncan had the Lady Flames' other shots.
The sharp-shooting Argonauts finished with 14 shots and had 10 on target. Lee keeper Whitcomb was kept busy with seven saves and was charged with the loss. On the other side, West Florida's Maciah Lipsey had five saves in the shutout and gained the victory.
The physical contest saw only two corner kicks registered in the entire 90 minutes and both were taken by the Argonauts. West Florida was whistled for 10 fouls and the Lady Flames nine. However, the Argos received three yellow cards and Lee one.
Coach Lee Hughes thoughts:
"We had the same chances they did. The difference tonight was that they put theirs in the back of the net and we didn't. Cannot fault the girls for the effort, they were gritty and gave it their all."
