MONTEVALLO, Ala. –For the first time since 2023, the Lee University men's soccer team is advancing to the Gulf South Conference Tournament Semifinals after a 2-0 win on the road at the University of Montevallo. It was the first every postseason meeting between the two teams. Marcos Garcia scored in the 61
st minute and Andreas Aspris added an insurance goal with seven seconds left to give the win.
In the first half it was very balanced with both teams taking seven shots with four on goal. In the second half, Lee managed nine more shots with four more on goal. Meanwhile, Montevallo only had seven shots with one on goal.
In the 61sy minute Garcia scored on a cross from Simpson Moore. Less than a minute later Garcia almost scored again when he hit the cross bar. Aspris goal came on a breakaway, and his shot was on an open goal after he got past the goalkeeper.
Charles Carriglitto was strong in goal with five crucial saves including two in the final ten minutes.
Garcia had four shots with two on goal and Max Rode had six shots with three on goal.
Lee had 14 fouls while UM had 16 fouls. The Falcons had four yellow cards and the Flames had three.
Lee will take on the #1 seed in the tournament. The Flames will take on Trevecca Nazarene University on Thursday, November 5 at 4 PM in Huntsville, Ala. The last time the two teams met in the postseason was in 2002.
The other semifinal will be the #2 seed Auburn University Montgomery Warhawks against the #6 seed University of West Alabama. The Tigers upset UAH to go to the semifinals.
Coach Derek Potteiger's Thoughts:
"Our team and shown fight all year. In some ways I wish we had scored more goals and created a bigger margin. But we are used to being up only one goal so we brought what we learned all year in the grit and that spirit to the playoffs. The playoffs are a different animal. Some of our guys hadn't experienced it yet and got it in full force today and absolutely executed today."
