Box Score Banner Elk, N.C. – The Women's Soccer Team battled in their season-opener on the road against a strong defensive unit in Lees-McRae, ending in a 1-0 victory on Thursday night over the Bobcats. Abbie Brown (Leeds, ENGLAND) was the lone Bear, nay – player, to score in the contest as it came in the 70^th minute of play.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 1, Lees-McRae 0
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (1-0), Lees-McRae (0-1)
Location: Tate Field | Banner Elk, N.C.
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STATS OF THE MATCH:
•    Lenoir-Rhyne senior goal keeper Loren Sterling (Colfax, N.C.) earned the win in goal after making just one save in all of her 90 minutes in goal as the defense limited the Bobcats to just one shot on goal all evening.  Despite taking the loss, the Bobcats goal keeper, Alexis Feeley (Raleigh, N.C.) held her ground, recording 15 saves on the night.
•    The Bears outshot the Bobcats, 23-3, but were more accurate as 16 of the Bears' 23 shots (70 percent) were ruled on goal.  The home team shot three times, and only one was ruled on goal, 33.3 percent.
•  Brown managed to score the lone goal in the game in the 70^th minute, splitting defenders and taking it all the way herself, proving to be enough for the Bears victory.  
•    The Bears and Bobcats played a relatively clean game, not going above the double-digit mark in fouls on either side. LR had nine while LMC was called for six. Both teams were even with four corner kick opportunities in the match.
 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
•    LR won their second-straight season-opener by a 1-0 score. The Bears beat Limestone by the same margin to open the 2017 campaign.
•    This was the second-straight year the Bears have defeated the Bobcats, and both were one-goal contests. Last season LR defeated Lees-McRae in Hickory, 2-1.
•    Brown's game-winner is the fifth of her LR career, and eighth goal in an LR uniform after leading the squad with seven last season.
•    After putting up seven zeroes on the scoreboard last season, starting of the 2018 campaign the same way is an accomplishment for Head Coach Gary Higgins and the Bears.

UP NEXT:
LR looks to host USC Aiken for its home opener on Saturday, September 1, at 7:00 p.m..  Lees-McRae will host Sunshine State Conference foe, Lynn University on Saturday.