LAURINBURG, NC - The Lees-McRae College Bobcats traveled to
Conference Carolinas foe St. Andrew's Presbyterian College Tuesday
afternoon, falling 10-4 in first round tournament action. The
number four seed Knights improve to 4-12 this season and will move
on to face top seeded host Limestone College Friday morning. The
Bobcats, the number five seed in the Conference Carolinas
Tournament, now hold a 3-9 record on the season.
The Knights' junior goalkeeper Nate Hull held his team in the
game, making 13 saves in the second half to keep the Bobcats from
clawing back into the contest. Hull finished with 18 saves while
at the other end Bobcats freshman goalie Andy Nesdill (Phoenix, AZ)
registered 11 saves.
The Bobcats allowed the Knights an early lead as the home side went
up 4-0 before they could get on the board. Lees-McRae would get
one in the first after a Nesdill save in which he launched a
clearing attempt down field. Brandon Marks (Durham, NC) caught the
airborne pass and fed a cutting Kirk Rogers (Casselberry, FL) to
find the back of the net with just five seconds remaining in the
first half.
Lees-McRae would capitalize on the momentum built late in the
first and draw to within one with goals from Marks and Matt Markey
(Burlington, NC) to make the score 4-3 in favor of the Knights.
Cole Howell would net his third goal of the game three and a half
minutes later to regain a two goal cushion for the Knights with
9:53 to play. Madison Thompson (Durham, NC) would bring the
Bobcats back to within one just over four minutes later however the
Knights offense would add one more just under the two minute mark
to take a 6-4 lead into halftime.
The Bobcats continued to battle hard in the second half, however
the Knights defense would hold them scoreless for the first time
this season and score two goals in each quarter to make it a 10-4
final and qualify for the semi-final round against nationally
ranked Limestone College, (currently #3 in the country).
Howell led the Knights with four goals and two assists while
John Holt added a pair of goals. Kyle Carnaggio provided the
Knights with one goal and one assist while Chris Michela, Ryan
Hauswirth, and Fred Parsons rounded out the home team scoring with
singles.
Marks led the Bobcats with a goal and an assist while Rogers,
Thompson and Markey all found the back of the net for the Bobcats
who dropped their second game of the year to St. Andrews, the first
a 11-9 game on the road March 21st.
The Knights held a slim 34-31 shot advantage while the Bobcats
won the ground ball war, 41-40. Lees-McRae went 1 for 4 on the man
up while holding the Knights scoreless on two opportunities. Pedro
Silva helped the Bobcats win the face off battle, winning nine of
the game's 16 draws.
While the Bobcats have been eliminated from the Conference
Carolinas Tournament, they will host one final game in 2008 as
Catawba College visits Tate Field for a 7:00pm game on Thursday
April 24th.
PICTURED TOP: Brandon Marks
PICTURED BELOW: FR goalie Andy Nesdill makes a save in this file
photo
