CLEVELAND, Tenn. - It took the Lee University women's soccer team just over 15 minutes to show it was going to dominate a Tusculum University squad that visited the Ray Conn Sports Complex on Wednesday evening with an unbeaten 2-0 record. Alaysia Nye quickly put Lee on top 1-0 at the 4:23 mark and then came back with her second goal in the 15th minute (15:31). The senior has now tallied four goals in the first two games.
Nye's first goal came at the top-center of the goal off her right foot and was assisted by graduate student Analisa Lujan. The second tally came at the bottom-left of the goal and was again off her right foot. Senior Grace Berry dished off the assist.
The Lady Flames went onto tally two more goals in the second half and improved to 2-0 on the year with the 4-0 win while the Pioneers dropped to 2-1. Things get much tougher for Lee on Sunday (3 p.m.) when they travel to Dahlonega, Ga. to face 13th-ranked and unbeaten University of North Georgia.
Coach Lee Hughes substituted freely in the first and second halves and ended up using every player that was dressed out. Freshman Ava Smith got into the scoring act in the 38th minute (38:09) with a shot in the right-corner of the net off her right foot. Freshman Riley Bradley garnered the assist.
The final score came late in the contest when veteran red-shirt senior Nora Burton got her name on the scoring chart when she blasted her shot into the top left-corner of the goal. Sophomore Siri Stenslie recorded the assist.
The Lady Flames' senior goalkeeper Abby Whitcomb was the only Lee player to see 90 minutes of action. Senior Avery Sides directed the traffic for 79 minutes and junior Isabella Valentine was solid at midfield for 72 minutes. Sophomore defender Whitney Carrigan led the defense at midfield while Berry, who usually plays most of the game, was limited to only 48 minutes.
Lee outshot the Pioneers 15-6 and 10 of the Lady Flames shots were on target while Tusculum had only two on goal. Whitcomb had two saves and Pioneer keeper Noemie Tartrou was kept busy and had five saves. Tusculum was allowed more corner kicks (4-3). The clean game saw the Lady Flames whistled for 10 fouls and the Pioneers seven.
Coach Lee Hughes' Thoughts:
"It was about getting better today. It didn't matter the scoreline we just had to get better. And if we get better the outcome will probably be good. We played 23 field players and the level didn't drop. It's great our freshman are getting playing time. Getting the experience early will help us as we go."
