Box score
BANNER ELK, N.C. --- The second-ranked
Lees-McRae College men's soccer team rode a Lee Squires (Sheffield,
UK) brace, and a strong second half en route to a 3-1 victory
against Tusculum College on Sunday afternoon at Tate Field. The win
marks head coach Matt Thompson's first victory at Lees-McRae.
Lees-McRae (1-1) tallied 20 shots in the match, out-shooting the
Pioneers (0-1-1) by a 20-11 margin, including an 11-5 advantage in
the first half. Squires led the way for Lees-McRae with five
attempts on goal in the match, including four on frame, while Luke
Perry (Chesire, UK) and David Palmer (Gateshead, UK) chipped in
four and three shots, respectively. Andres Jarquin (Guatemala City,
Guatemala) paced the Pioneers with four shots, as Javier Portillo
(Guatemala City, Guatemala) chipped in three attempts of his
own.
Squires was an instrumental part of the win for Lees-McRae,
pacing the Bobcats with two goals and an assist while Perry added
the match-winning goal early in the second half. Justin Jones
(Jamestown, N.C.) and Palmer chipped in two and one assists,
respectively, while James Galvani (High Wycombe, UK) added a helper
of his own.
Portillo tallied his first collegiate goal for the Pioneers as
fellow freshman Matt Davies (Blaxland, NSW Australia) picked up his
first career assist. Sophomore Andy Goellner (Denver, Colo.) also
made a match-high eight saves in goal for the Pioneers.
Squires opened the scoring early on, drilling a header past the
TC keeper in the second minute off a corner from Palmer to give
Lees-McRae an early 1-0 lead. Perry doubled the advantage midway
through the 48th minute, driving a wonderful finish into the top
corner after Squires threaded a perfect cross off a well placed
lead pass from Jones.
Lees-McRae would stretch the lead to 3-0 on Squires' second goal
of the match midway through the 58th minute, when Galvani
one-touched a cross from Jones right to Squires, who then pivoted
and slotted a perfect finish inside the far post. Tusculum would
battle hard to stay within striking distance, cutting the margin to
3-1 when Portillo drove home a brilliant free kick from Davies
early in the 80th minute.
The Bobcats return to the pitch on Saturday, September 11 when
they host Limestone College to open their Conference Carolinas
schedule. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Tate Field.
- LMC -
