Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the Lees-McRae Bobcats on Saturday afternoon in a 3-2 upset victory.
The Warriors totaled seven shots with four being on target compared to the Bobcats 19 shots. Bailey Meyer led the team with two shots on goal. Both Karina Pashkovets and Vitallia Benforte had solo shots on goal. Meyer, Pashkovets and Benforte each scored during the game. Ashley Caballero had two assists. Katelyn O'Neill played all ninety minutes in the goal and picked up six saves.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 3, Lees-McRae 2
Records: Southern Wesleyan (5-7-2 / CC 5-4-2) Lees-McRae (7-7-2 / CC 6-5-1)
How It Happened
The Warriors charged out of the gate against the higher ranked Lees-McRae Bobcats. Ashley Caballero took an early corner kick and crossed it in to Karina Pashkovets. Pashkovets headed it into the goal to give the Warriors the first goal of the game just two minutes into play. Southern Wesleyan was not done as Vitallia Benforte broke away from the pack and took the ball down the field and put it into the back of the net to extend the Warriors lead to 2-0 at the ten minute mark. Three minutes later, the Warriors attacked the net again. Caballero took another corner kick and crossed it right to Bailey Meyer who got it over the head of the Bobcats goal keeper to give the Warriors a 3-0 goal advantage. The Bobcats looked to cut into the lead as Aubrey Tansey sent the ball toward the top right corner of the net, but Katelyn O'Neill got up to knock the ball away. The Warriors continued their attacks as Brianna Gonzalez and Maya Drew each put up shots, but each of the attacks went wide. Sarah Jones looked to cut into the Warriors lead as she sent the ball toward the net, but once again O'Neill was there to keep the Bobcats off the board.
The Bobcats continued their attacks in the second half as Addy Geiss and Sarah Jones put up shots, but the Warriors were there to block each of the attacks on the net. Aubrey Tansey's shot ricocheted off the woodwork. Lees-McRae's attacks finally paid off just over twenty minutes into the second half as Ezra Carpenter and Brooke Allen scored back-to-back goals to put them within one goal of the Warriors. Southern Wesleyan's defense stood strong as Laugane Dion, Jessie Parrott, Karina Pashkovets and Riley Webb each thwarted the Bobcats' attacks. Bailey Meyer wove around the Bobcats' defense and put up a shot, but Laura Walker was able to get up the save the attack from finding the net. The Warriors went on to claim a 3-2 goal victory over Lees-McRae.
What's Next
The Warriors will travel to Rome, GA on October 28 to take on the Shorter Hawks at 5:30pm. They will then return to Childs Field to host the Emmanuel Lions. Southern Wesleyan will recognize their five seniors prior to kick-off.
