Columbus, Ga. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Soccer Team (13-5-2) saw its season come to a close with a 3-2 loss to Armstrong State (14-4-2) in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs Friday at the Walden Soccer Complex on the campus of Columbus State University.
The Pirates, the fourth seed in the Southeast Regional Tournament, will face top-seeded Columbus State (18-2) in the second round on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The Cougars are ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division II.
Armstrong State's Allison Litchfield (Lilburn, Ga.) scored the match-winner on a penalty kick with 7:56 left in the contest as the Pirates were able to hold off the Bears after building a 2-0 advantage.
Lenoir-Rhyne received goals from senior forward
Kendall Smith (Asheville, N.C.) and junior forward
Sarah Pullman (San Diego, Calif.) just over three minutes apart – at the 58:42 and 62:15 marks of the second half, respectively – to tie the contest but Armstrong State was able to prevail.
Smith, who scored her team-leading ninth goal of the year, finished off a shot from about 22 yards out and assisted on Pullman's score with a pass into the box.
Amanda Green (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) and Ashley Lewis (Lawrenceville, Ga.) scored for the Pirates in the first half while Erica Laurens (Austrell, Ga.) earned the victor in goal after stopping five shots on the afternoon.
Lenoir-Rhyne senior goalkeeper
Andrea Leano (San Diego, Calif.) made a pair of saves but suffered the loss while the Bears took the defeat despite holding a 13-9 edge in shots taken.
