Banner Elk, NC – Southern Wesleyan falls to the Lees-McRae Bobcats 5-2 in their final regular season game of the 2021 season.

The Warriors had 16 shots with eight being on goal in the loss to the Bobcats.  Hykeem Martin and Pedro Fonseca each had two shots on goal in the loss.  Both Martin and Fonseca also had goals in the game.  Austin Snow had the lone assist for the Warriors.  Carter Pike played all ninety minutes in goal for the Warriors, collecting nine saves.


 
Game Vitals

Final:  Lees-McRae 5, Southern Wesleyan 2

Records: Southern Wesleyan (4-10 / CC 3-8) Lees-McRae (9-5-2 / CC 8-3-1)


 
How It Happened

The Warriors challenged early as Feren Nunez sent a shot toward the net, but Joshua Garvilla saved the attack to keep Southern Wesleyan from taking an early lead.  Southern Wesleyan challenged the Lees-McRae defense with a shot by Diego Hernandez, but the Bobcats prevented the Warriors attacks from paying off.  The Bobcats countered with an attack of their own, but Carter Pike saved the attack to keep the game saved at 0-0.  Pedro Fonseca and Hernandez each took shots on the goal, but the Bobcats continued to get in the way of their attacks.  Lees-McRae took the first goal of the evening as Daniel Garvilla put the ball in the back of the net to give the Bobcats a 1-0 advantage.  The Warriors would not let that discourage them as a foul right outside the box allowed Hykeem Martin to take a free kick.  Martin curved the ball into the top corner of the net to allow Southern Wesleyan to tie the game 1-1 at the half.

The Bobcats started the second half with a shot by Johannes Oeksnevard, but Carter Pike saved the attack.  Southern Wesleyan countered with an attack down the field, but an off sides call prevented the Warriors attack from paying off.  The Warriors kept up the pressure with shots by Tyler Zoucha and Jose Rangel, but Joshua Garvilla saved the attack to keep the game tied.  The Bobcats continued to push ahead as Oeksnevad put the ball into the net to put Lees-McRae back on top with thirty minutes left in the second half.  Trailing the Bobcats 3-1, the Warriors would not let up their attacks as Hykeem Martin sent the ball toward the top of the net, but Garvilla jumped up to save the ball from reaching the back corner.  Noah Koch attacked the net, but the Bobcats stayed strong on the defense.  The Bobcats struck again, but the Warriors countered as Austin Snow crossed the ball to Pedro Fonseca who drilled it to the top center of the net to put the Warriors down 4-2.  Despite late attacks, the Warriors would fall to the Bobcats in a 5-2 final.