University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Lees-McRae (Exhibition)
Women's Soccer Downs Lees-McRae 2-1
08.15.2011 | Women's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville scored two goals in the first half and held off Lees-McRae in the second half to record a 2-1 exhibition women's soccer victory Monday afternoon at Greenwood Field.
The Bulldogs picked up a goal from freshman Amanda Dailor in the first minute of the match and then got a goal from Ferriss Roberts in the 20th minute.
The Bobcats scored in the 69th minute on a goal from Vickie Rich to cut the lead to 2-1. But Asheville's defense was able to keep the visitors off the scoreboard for the rest of the match.
Freshman goalkeeper Heather Muller was brilliant for Asheville as she made five saves, including three when LMC had one-on-ones with the keeper.
"Today is a good starting point for us," commented second-year Asheville coach Michelle Demko. "We found a way to win and that's always encouraging. We beat a good team today in Lees-McRae. They will win a lot of matches this season.
"We tried a lot of different combinations in there today and I liked what I saw," added Demko. "There's plenty to work on but anytime you have more goals than the other team at the end of the match, you will take the victory."
Asheville got things going right off the bat. On one of the first possessions of the match, the Bulldogs earned a corner kick. Senior Leilani Halkiotis sent a corner into the goal area. It landed at the feet of Dailor. The California native scored from seven yards out for a quick 1-0 Asheville lead 53 seconds into the match.
In the 20th minute, Carolyn O'Brien sent a long diagonal pass to Roberts. Roberts then connected from 22 yards out for a 2-0 Asheville margin at the 20:32 mark.
Lees-McRae had some chances but Muller made some nifty saves in the opening half. She stopped Rich one-on-one and Mary Beth Sullivan from close range, as well.
In the second half, the Bobcats just missed early as a shot from Meagan Thornton went wide from five yards out.
They finally got on the board when the visitors converted on a 2-on-1. Sullivan sent a perfect pass to Rich, who tapped the ball into the goal at 69:11.
LMC had one more chance but Rich was stopped by Muller from 15 yards out with 10 minutes left.
Asheville held a 15-10 advantage in shots. Each team had five corner kicks.
The Bulldogs open the regular season at Davidson Saturday night at 7 p.m. Asheville's home opener will be on Aug. 28th vs. Tennessee Tech starting at 2 p.m.
