HICKORY, NC - The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Soccer Team saw their season come to an end in an overtime thriller in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. Lander erased a 2-0 deficit to score three straight goals, including the game winner in the 107th minute to end the Bears season.
Emerson Talley and
Kara Gavaghan scored goals for the Bears.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: (2) Lenoir-Rhyne 2, (7) Lander 3 (2 OT's)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (13-2-5) , Lander (9-3-5)
Location: Moretz Sports Athletic Complex I Hickory, NC
STATS OF THE MATCH:
- Bears got on the board in the final two minutes in the first half and the first two minutes in the second half. Emmerson Talley found the back of the net in the 44th minute to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
- Right after the break, Evan O'Leary passed it to Ava Hartman, who then quickly served it to Kara Gavaghan. Gavaghan headed into the goal to extend the lead to 2-0.
- Alarie Hodge got the Bearcats within one with a goal off a deflection in the 66th minute. Hodge connected on the equalizer ten minutes later to tie the game at two.
- Bears had a few chances in the final minutes but could not net the game winner.
- Lenoir-Rhyne had two shots in the first overtime period but nothing on goal
- After a pair of saves by Riley Miller in the second overtime, Lander broke through with the game winner in the 107th minute off a free kick as Korina Byland headed the ball in the back of the net to move on.
- Lander out shot the Bears 22-19 and held a 12-8 edge in shots on goal.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Miller made a season-high nine saves in goal.
- O'Leary's assist was her 15th of the year, which is good for second most in a single-season in LR history.
- O'Leary finishes her career with 31 assists, which is also second most in a career in program history.
- LR moves to 7-9-8 all-time in NCAA Tournament games.
- Lander will play North Georgia on Sunday from Morets Sports Athletic Complex. North Georgia defeated Wingate 2-0 in Friday's first game.
