BELMONT, N.C. - Lee Squires knocked in a penalty kick in the
71st minute to give the Lees-McRae Bobcats a 1-0 win to end the
regular season over the Belmont Abbey Crusaders Saturday afternoon
in a conference match.
The win improves the Bobcats' record to 15-2-1 overall and 9-0-1 in
Conference Carolinas. They had clinched the top seed in the
conference with a win over Anderson last Saturday. The Abbey falls
to 9-9-2 overall and 4-4-2 in Conference Carolinas.
Belmont Abbey outshot the Bobcats 10-5 and held a 5-3 advantage in
corner kicks, but Lees-McRae scored the only goal of the match at
the 70:09 mark. After an Abbey handball in the box, Lee Squires
(Sheffield, England) connected on the ensuing penalty kick for what
turned out to be the only goal of the match.
The two teams were evenly matched in the first half, with both
having tremendous scoring opportunities, but Lees-McRae keeper
Dylan Lawrence (Lawsonville, N.C.) and Abbey keeper Bryan Alenky
staved off any scoring chances. Lawrence had five saves, Alenky
made three.
"To win today and finish the Conference Carolinas season
undefeated is a testament to how hard this team has worked
throughout the entire year," head coach Chris Whalley said. "To
finish with a better record in conference after such a tremendous
season a year ago truly speaks to the focus and intensity we've
brought to every game this fall."
The Bobcats will open the Conference Carolinas Tournament Tuesday
at 7 p.m. against the eight seed Coker College at Tate Field.
Pictured: Lee Squires
