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Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Lucia Hil
3
Winner Lee Lee (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
2
Lenoir-Rhyne LR (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Lee Lee
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
3
Final
2
Lenoir-Rhyne LR
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Lee Lee 1 2 3
Lenoir-Rhyne LR 0 2 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Jason Stuebe, Athletic Communications Assistant

Women's Soccer battles back but falls late in season opener

HICKORY, NC - The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Soccer team battled back from a 2-0 deficit in their season opener against Lee, scoring two straight goals in the second half to even the score. The Flames quieted the home crowd when they found the game winner in the 87th minute to defeat the Bears 3-2. Lucia Hidalgo and Isabella Zicchinolfi found the back of the net for the Bears in their first game of the season.

Justin Maullin made his LR coaching debut on the pitch today as he was named the 11th head coach in program history earlier this year. 

This was just the first game of a four game home stand to open the 2025 season. LR will look to rebound on Sunday night against Lees-McRae.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lee 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 2
Records: Lee (1-0), Lenoir-Rhyne (0-1)
Location: Moretz Sports Athletic Complex I Hickory, NC

STATS OF THE MATCH:
  • On their first corner kick opportunity of the season, the Flames got on the board in the 8th minute on a Alaysia Nye goal.
  • The game remained 1-0 until the 57th minute when the Flames extended the lead to 2-0. 
  • LR then battled back and scored twice in an eight minute span as Kaitlyn Marcinowski delivered a long pass to Lucia Hidalgo to give the Bears their first goal of 2025 in the 66th minute.
  • After a yellow card for the Flames, Savannah Hughes had a free kick where she make a perfect kick towards Isabella Zicchinolfi, who found the equalizer in the 74th minute. 
  • In the final minutes of the game, Lee made a counter attack and crossed the ball to the far post, where Nye connected for her second goal of the game.
  • The game was evenly played as LR held a slight 14-13 advantage on shots and Lee had a 9-7 advantage on corner kicks. 
  • Riley Miller made two outstanding saves in goal for the Bears to keep the Flames found extending their lead early in the contest. 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
  • This is the third straight season these two teams have played. 
  • The first two contest ended in a 1-1 draw before Lee's victory today. 
  • LR will open the season with four straight home games before making their first road trip to #2 Columbus State on September 17th. 
  • Zicchinolfi, a freshman from Waxhaw, N.C. scored her first career goal in her first career game.
  • Hidalgo's goal was her first as a Bear and her 9th career goal after eight last season with Limestone University. 
  • 22 different Bears players saw action in today's contest.
UP NEXT: Lees-McRae will be coming to Hickory on Sunday afternoon. The Bobcats will open their season against Lincoln Memorial later tonight before making the trip down to Hickory for a 5:00 Sunday kickoff. 
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