Hickory, N.C. ? The Lenoir-Rhyne University Men?s Soccer Team (5-2-1, 1-0) opened South Atlantic Conference play Saturday with a 4-1 win over Brevard College (1-8, 0-3).? Junior Dave Bailey (Bath, ENGLAND) posted his second hat trick of the season as the Bears scored four unanswered goals in the second half.
The game was originally scheduled to be played at Brevard but was moved to the Moretz Sports ? Athletic Complex due to wet field conditions at the Tornados? facility.
Sophomore midfielder Renato Barbosa (Vinhedo, BRAZIL) put Brevard on the board first at the 12:25 mark after he punched in a rebound just a yard from goal.? Freshman forward Alec Darcey (Raleigh, N.C.) hit a dipping blast from 25 yards out on the right side of the box, forcing junior goalkeeper Tom Heath (Solihull, ENGLAND) to make an acrobatic save that caromed off the crossbar and fell onto Barbosa?s boot for the tally.
Brevard narrowed the field in the first half, never allowing the Bears to gain the edge and attack the goal from the corners.?
In the second half, L-R took any frustration it felt and released it on the Tornados, attacking them right up the middle.
Thirty-three seconds after halftime, the Bears? direct play paid immediate dividends when Bailey crisply finished a though pass from sophomore midfielder Brendan Howard (Tampa, Fla.) to tie the contest at one.?
Then, seconds later, junior defender Jon Abraham (Little Daddesden, ENGLAND) blasted home the game-winner off a corner kick from junior midfielder Gary Higgins (Paisley, SCOTLAND).
Bailey struck again at the 61:45 mark on a bomb 40 yards from goal and he finished off his day with a header off yet another Higgins corner in the 89th minute.?
With the three-goal day, Bailey now has 11 goals on the year to lead L-R and now ranks in the top 10 nationally in NCAA Division II scoring.
After managing just four shots in the first half, L-R accumulated 17 in the second frame.?? Heath made one save in the victory for the Bears while freshman goalkeeper Jack Shaw (Simpsonville, S.C.) made two saves for Brevard in the losing effort.
The Bears will remain at home next week as they host Pfeiffer University Wednesday at the Moretz Sports ? Athletic Complex.? Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
