CLEVELAND, Tenn. – It took two second half goals to propel the Lee University men's soccer team past Emmanuel University on the opening night of the season. Freshman Nicolas Napoli and senior Marcos Garcia each found the back of the net for the Flames to give Lee a 2-0 victory. The Flames are now 16-0-0 all time against the Lions.
 
The Flames came out of the gate quickly with multiple shots over the first few minutes but failed to find the back of the net. Quincy Howard made a couple of saves and the Lions blocked a couple of shots by Lee to keep it level at the halftime break.
The deadlock did not remain long into the second half as less than two minutes into the period, Napoli broke through on the left side and found the bottom of the goal. Garcia doubled the lead in the 63^rd minute has his breakaway shot bounced off the keeper and rolled into the net.
It was a physical game as Emmanuel committed 17 fouls and Lee had 15. 10 cards were handed out between the two teams. Jeese Thompson earned a second yellow in the 80^th minute for the Flames which turned into a red card.
Lee dominated the shots in the contest taking 18 to just five for the Lions. Garcia had five with three on goal. Napoli and Daniel Garvilla each had three apiece.

The Flames will remain at home on Sunday, September 7 as the will host the University of Findlay at 1 PM.
 
Coach Derek Potteiger's Thoughts:
"You will always take the first win of the year no matter what it looks like. The are clearly ways we need to improve. We wanted a shutout and then needed players to step up and that is what we did. We are not a finished product at the moment and that is ok but we need to get better in a hurry.