HICKORY, N.C. - For the 26th time in program history, the Lenoir-Rhyne women's soccer team is heading to the SAC semi-finals. The Bears used two first half goals to take down Coker 2-1 on Saturday night.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: (2) Lenoir-Rhyne 2, (7) Coker 1
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (11-6-1, 7-3-0 SAC), Coker (7-7-3, 3-4-3 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Moretz Sports Athletic Complex
STORY OF THE MATCH:
- Lenoir-Rhyne dominated the first half, out-shooting Coker 14-2.
- Katie Durham opened the scoring with a goal off Isabella Zicchinolfi's corner kick in the 14th minute.
- Zicchinolfi doubled the lead with her first career penalty kick goal in the 33rd minute.
- The Cobras turned things on in the second half, out-shooting hte Bears 6-5 and forcing two Riley Miller saves.
- Grace Sykes cut into the lead with her fourth goal of the season early in the second half.
- A potential game-tying Coker goal in with 20 minutes left in the game was reversed following video review, pushing momentum back in the Bears' favor.
- The Cobras were called for an offsides on a goal with four seconds left and the Bears held on for the win.
STATS OF THE MATCH:
- A fairly clean game, this contest had just 21 fouls and one yellow card.
- Lenoir-Rhyne out-shot Coker 19-8 and held a 6-4 lead in shots-on-goal.
- Katie Durham led the team with six shots, two of which were on goal.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- This win avenges a 2-0 loss to Coker earlier this year.
- The Bears are now 15-2-2 all-time over the Cobras.
- This was the first time these teams had ever met in the conference tournament.
UP NEXT: Lenoir-Rhyne will take on No. 4 seeded Carson-Newman in next week's South Atlantic Conference semi-final. The Eagles defeated Mars Hill 2-1 earlier today. That semi-final will take place at the Matthews Sportsplex in Matthews, N.C., next Friday at 8:00 p.m.
