MISENHEIMER, N.C. – Lees-McRae men's soccer returned to the pitch on Thursday afternoon on the campus of Pfeiffer University.
Owen Smith registered his first goal of the season, but Converse defeated the Bobcats, 3-1, on the day.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Converse – 3; Belmont Abbey – 1
LOCATION: Lefko-Mills Field -- Misenheimer, North Carolina
RECORDS: Converse (6-1-1/3-0-0), Lees-McRae (2-3-3/2-2-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Converse jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage after Jaxon Keene scored off a pass from Guilherme Fontes.
- The Valkyries made the score 2--0 after Fontes tallied a marker in the 20th minute.
- Lees-McRae looked to turn the momentum in the second half as O. Smith collected the goal in the 57th minute.
- Harrison Watts almost tied the contest with a shot on goal in the 73rd minute, but Converse's Mateo Sanchez maintained the one-goal lead.
- Fontes tallied the third goal for Converse after the Valkyries were given a penalty shot in the 82nd minute.
- Converse led the Bobcats 15-10 in shots and 10-3 in shots on goal. The Valkyries collected six corner kicks to Lees-McRae's three. The two sides combined for 41 fouls in 90 minutes of action.
- Jonathan Kienle made seven stops in goal for the Bobcats, but conceded three goals in 90 minutes.
- Santi Balza joined O. Smith and Watts with a shot on goal.
FOR THE VALKYRIES:
- Fontes paced Converse with four shots on goal, two goals, and one assist. Jaxon Keene recorded the other goal and Sanchez made two saves in goal for the Valkyries.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae men's soccer faces Belmont Abbey on Saturday, October 12 in Belmont, North Carolina. The kickoff with the Crusaders is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
