DAHLONEGA, Ga. – A never-say-die group of Lee University women soccer players fought back to score a pair of goals in the final nine minutes and earned a 2-2 draw with 13th-ranked University of North Georgia on Sunday afternoon at the UNG Soccer Complex.
The decision leaves the 16th-ranked Lady Flames with a 2-0-1 record and the Nighthawks stand at 3-0-1. Lee opens GSC play on Friday (6 p.m.) when it travels to Huntsville, Ala. and test the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
The Nighthawks quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Nina Lopez scored in the 12th minute (12:38). The assist was delivered by Meghan O'Brien. The margin reached 2-0 in the 20th minute (20:23) on a goal by O'Brien. The double-assist was given to Alexa Aronoff and Grace McGill.
The two teams battled hard until the Lady Flames finally broke the scoring ice in the 81st minute (81:30) on a penalty kick by Avery Sides. Lee celebrated bringing the event to a 2-2 affair in the 86th minute (86:01) when Isabella Valentine was on the receiving end of an assist from Grace Berry.
Valentine, Aubrey Benfield, Sides and Whitney Carrigan gave Coach Lee Hughes 90 full minutes of play while Berry worked for 83 minutes, and Nora Burton played 67 minutes. Other than Valentine and Sides, Megan Davis, Berry (two), Analisa Lujan and Alaysia Nye had shots on goal.
The Lady Flames fired 14 shots overall and placed eight on goal. The Nighthawks were limited to 10 shots but eight were on target. Lee keeper Abby Whitcomb played all 90 minutes in goal and was credited with six saves. On the other side, Isabelle Lee also had six saves.
The Nighthawks were awarded six corner kicks while the Lady Flames had only two the entire afternoon. The rugged battle saw 28 fouls called, 18 against North Georgia and 10 against Lee. There were six yellow cards issued, four against the Nighthawks and two against the Lady Flames.
Coach Lee Hughes thoughts:
"It was a great game between two good teams. That is why we schedule the way we do. These are the games that test you and push you to be better! We are a gritty team but had to find a new level of grit in the second half. I am very proud of the girls to have shown this character to come back in the second half. We are definitely battle tested as we move into conference this coming week! Tomorrow is just another day (of practice) to get better."
