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           Lee Strikes Early, Downs Highlanders 4-1

Marion, Ind.— Lee University (Tenn.) scored two goals in the first three minutes and went on to beat Houghton College in women’s soccer 4-1 at the Aflac Wildcat Tournament here Friday night.

Lee’s Janaina Novaes converted a penalty kick just a minute and a half into the game to give the Lady Flames a 1-0 lead. Less than a minute and a half later Tiffany Cox scored for Lee on a 16-yard shot that found the left corner.

Despite the early miscues, Houghton managed to turn play around and come back. “Take away the first three minutes and we had a good battle,” said Highlanders Head Coach David Lewis.

Houghton’s Hannah Swift converted a pass from freshman Kaylin Bull at 23:06 to draw her team within one. With the run of play going the Highlander’s way, it looked as if they might challenge Lee, which came into the contest ranked third in the country by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

“They [Lee] are a very good team. They will compete for the national championship.” Lewis said, “We were just too inconsistent. There were times when we played brilliantly and then times that we made some errors.”

Just 2:15 before the half ended the Highlanders made one of those errors. Lee’s Kristine Tuck scored to give the Flames a 3-1 halftime lead.

The only scoring in the second half came at 64:17 when Samantha Hare volleyed a long cross past goalkeeper Lauren Foster.

Foster played the second half for the Highlanders and had three saves. Becky Wakeman started the game and gave up three goals and made two saves.

Swift’s goal was her sixth of the season in as many games. That type of scoring power earned her the national offensive player of the week award in the NAIA last week.

Lee outshot the Highlanders 11-8; corners were even 4-4.

Lewis was pleased with the Highlanders’ effort, despite the team’s inconsistent play. “That’s part of a team that’s jelling,” he said, but the Highlanders won’t have long to contemplate how the game might have turned if they could have erased those first three minutes.

On Saturday evening the team will take on the tournament hosts, Indiana Wesleyan University. The Wildcats came into the tournament at 5-0, having scored an astounding 34 goals while giving up only two.