Box score
BANNER ELK, N.C. - The nationally 13th ranked Lees-McRae College
Bobcats stormed past the King College Tornado 4-0 on four second
half goals during the non-conference match Thursday night at Tate
Field in the 2009 season opener.
After a scoreless first half, former All-American Berin Boracic
(Orlando, Fla.)
scored the Bobcats first goal of 2009 and his first goal since 2007
after sitting out all of 2008 due to a knee
injury. The goal came when sophomore, David Palmer
(Gateshead, England), played a through ball to Richard Guffins
(Holland). Guffins left the ball for Boracic who ripped the ball
into the back of the net at 62nd minute mark of the match to make
it 1-0.
One minute later, freshman mid-fielder, Jamie Bladen
(Yorkshire, England) intercepted a bouncing pass from a King
defender and blasted a knuckling volley into the net from 35 yards
to make it 2-0 Lees-McRae.
The Bobcats added their third goal in the 70th minute when
Bladen beat his man and left fellow freshman Luke Perry (Chesire,
England) with the wide-open goal to extend the lead to
3-0.
After a King player was dismissed from action on a red card,
the Bobcats added the final tally in the 80th minute when Guffins
played a through ball to Palmer who then found sophomore Grant
Elder (Clayton, Ohio). Elder hit the one-timer into
the back of the net to give the match the final score of
4-0.
Bladen paced the Bobcats with three points on one goal and
one assist. Boracic, Palmer and Guffens had two points
apiece.
Senior goalkeeper Sean Paradise (North Port, Fla.) earned the
shutout in net for the Bobcats. Paradise made two
saves in the winning effort, while King's Justin Morrell took the
loss. Morrell made seven saves.
The Bobcats outshot King 20-6.
"It was a great start to the season," Bobcat head coach Chris
Whalley said. "I am happy we created so many chances
and scored four quality goals. We showed great
patience and discipline during the match.
"Bora is a invalueable talent," Whalley said on Boracic's
return to the Bobcats. "When you regain an
All-American back it is a nice boost."
The Bobcats will return to action on Tuesday, September 1st
at 7 p.m. when they travel to Mars Hill College for a
non-conference match.
Box
score
2009
Season Stats
