BANNER ELK, NC--The top seeded Lees-McRae College Bobcats
defeated fourth seeded Queens University of Charlotte Royals 3-0
Thursday evening in NCAA Men's Soccer Southeast Region action at
Tate Field. The Bobcats, hosts of the Southeast Regional and the
number two team in the country improve to 20-1-1 while Queens
finishes their season with a 10-7-3 record.
In a rematch of the Conference Carolinas Championship game, the
Bobcats earned their third victory and third shutout over the
Royals this season, defeating them 1-0 in both the regular season
and playoffs. With the supportive home crowd behind them, the
nation's top ranked offense (3.62 goals per game) came out flying,
looking to put the game away early. After Queens goalie Dan
Williams (Kingwood, TX) stopped the Bobcats' Lee Squires
(Sheffield, England) just over five minutes in, the Conference
Carolinas leading scorer and Tournament MVP would make no mistake
the second time, tallying his 23rd of the season in the eighth
minute. Tom Brailsford's (Rotherham, England) service into the 18
yard box from just past center, would allow Kyle McGimsey (Plant
City, FL) to get his head on it, directing the ball to Squires.
With room to maneuver, Squires would find the open corner to give
the Bobcats the early 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, defender Nate
Wall (Des Moines, IA) would recognize a hole in the Royals defense,
moving forward after finding Conference Carolinas and Daktronics
Southeast Region Player of the Year Berin Boracic (Orlando, FL) at
the top of the box. Wall and Boracic would slide through the
defense utilizing a beautiful give-and-go with Boracic cashing in
on his career high 18th goal of the season. The Bobcats would hold
the two goal lead through to halftime.
With the two goal cushion, the Bobcats back line would tighten
up, looking to hold the clean sheet on the scoreboard. Never a
team to shy away from the offense, the Bobcats would add an
insurance marker in the 75th minute, as Squires would score his
second of the contest. McGimsey's well placed ball, just behind
the Royals defender, would allow Squires the chance to use his
speed, winning the ball and scoring on the breakaway against
Williams.
Williams would finish the game with eight saves after the
Bobcats outshot the Royals 21-8. Sean Paradise (North Point, FL)
earned his tenth shutout of the season, the Bobcats' twelfth of the
year, registering four saves.
The Bobcats move on to face #19 Lander University who defeated
#14 Clayton State 1-0 earlier on Saturday evening. Kickoff is set
for 7:00pm at Tate Field Saturday, November 10th.
Post Game Comments:
"We're very happy with the result. I think we played well at
times; but we've got to understand that we need to be more
consistent and play better on Saturday in order to beat
Lander."
- Lees-McRae Head Coach Chris Whalley
"We've still got to take things game by game. Saturday's game
will be more difficult, but we're good enough to move on…we
just don't want this season to end."
- SO Lee Squires
"It feels good winning in a National Tournament over a tough
team like Queens. It's also nice for the team to pick up another
clean sheet. When we get a shutout, it's due to the solid play of
everyone on the field. We're looking forward to Lander on
Saturday, and we're aware that it's going to be another tough
game."
- SO Sean Paradise
"Lees-McRae was definitely the better team tonight; they came
out hard, and got two good goals early. They're a very
well-rounded team; they definitely took the game from us. If
Lees-McRae can keep this intensity up they should do very well. We
had a good season and I am proud of this team and the year we
had."
- Queens Head Coach Fred Norchi
"Lees-McRae just played better today. We battled hard, and
we'll be battling again next year. All the best to Lees-McRae,
they'll do well if they continue to play like that."
- JR Chad Pinnick
"The whole game was about heart, and Lees-McRae showed they
wanted it, and they took it. We have a good team, we've had ups
and down this year, overall we just weren't as complete as
Lees-McRae."
- SO Dan Williams
PICTURED TOP LEFT: Berin Boracic
PICTURED BOTTOM UPPER: Lee Squires
PICTURED BOTTOM LOWER: Team after 1st round victory
