Lees-McRae Fall Sports Enjoying Winning Seasons

Compiled by Corinne Saunders

Lees-McRae men’s soccer team seniors Dylan Lawrence, Berin Boracic, Dale Parker, Ignacio Falco and Sean Paradise are pictured on Senior Day, which took place on Tuesday, November 3. The team is the No. 1 seed in the conference. Photo courtesy of Lees-McRae Athletics

The Lees-McRae men’s soccer, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams are all enjoying winning seasons this year.

The volleyball team and the men’s soccer team are both ranked the No. 1 seed, said Craig McPhail, athletic director for Lees-McRae College.

“We’re ranked No. 1 in the country for men’s soccer,” McPhail said.

The volleyball team is ranked No.1 in the conference, he said, adding that these rankings are very impressive for a college of 670 students, 330 of whom are student-athletes participating in 18 sports.

“I’m extremely proud of the student-athletes and their coaches for the success they’ve had this fall,” McPhail said, adding that the success has energized the campus and community.

The regular volleyball season draws to a close this week, and the men’s and women’s soccer teams are already in conference tournaments.
For more information on Lees-McRae College Athletics, click to www.lmcbobcats.com.

Women’s Volleyball
Epperson Gives Lees-McRae 3-0 Win Over Queens
Outside hitter Megan Epperson tallied 12 kills and a .476 hitting percentage as the Lees-McRae College Lady Bobcats swept the Queens University of Charlotte Royals, 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-9) Tuesday, November 3, in women’s Conference Carolinas volleyball action in Williams Gym.

Epperson was the only player on both teams to reach double-digit kills. She also recorded seven digs and had two blocking assists. Whitney Justice added eight kills and a .400 hitting percentage for the Lady Bobcats. Katie-Marie Legg led Lees-McRae with four block assists, and Trisha Reese handed out 17 assists. Luaren Dickover passed out 11 assists in the match, and Luana Rocha collected a match-high 15 digs. Rocha and Legg had two service aces apiece, as well.

With the win, The Bobcats improve to 24-5 overall and 15-1 in the conference, while Queens slips to 7-23 overall and 3-13 in the conference. Lees-McRae has won its last seven matches and 20 of its last 22 matches dating back to September 12. The team’s season-high win streak is eight matches, from September 26 to October 23, when the team suffered its last loss at the hands of Lander.

Lees-McRae will travel to Anderson this Friday, November 6, for the penultimate regular season match. If the team wins, it will clinch the Conference Carolinas Regular Season Title, which the Lady Bobcats have not won since 2007.

Men’s Soccer
Bobcats Notch Eight Goals to Advance to the Semifinals in Win Over Knights
The top seeded Lees-McRae College Bobcats men’s soccer team defeated the St. Andrews Presbyterian College Knights 8-0 in the Quarterfinals of the 2009 Conference Carolinas Tournament Tuesday, November 3, at Tate Field on Senior Day.

With the win, The Bobcats improve to 15-1-1 overall and advance to the semifinals, which will be held Friday. November 6, at 7:00 p.m. at home against fifth seed Coker. St. Andrews’ season ends with a 5-11 record.

Prior to the match, Lees-McRae honored their five members of the Class of 2010: Berin Boracic, Ignacio Falco, Sean Paradise, Dylan Lawrence and Dale Parker.

Lees-McRae got on the scoreboard in the fourth minute when Jamie Price sent a cross into the box to Richard Guffens. Guffens brought the ball out of the air and finished to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead.

Four minutes later, Parker connected with a corner kick from Luke Staats to make 2-0. Eight minutes later on another Bobcat corner Staats found Price who played a quality cross to Guffens on the post for the goal.

The fourth goal came just two minutes later in the 19th minute, when Luke Perry played a pass to Sam Kennedy, who laid it off to Boracic. Boracic launched a laser to the near post for the goal. Boracic struck again three minutes later on a Guffens assist. Guffens intercepted the St. Andrews’ goal kick and played the ball to a streaking Boracic for the one-timer to make it 5-0.

The Bobcats scored their final goal of the first half when Jamie Bladen put a left footed shot into the net to make it 6-0 at the break.

Reiko Trott scored the first goal of the second half and his goal of the season. The goal came on a through pass from Grant Elder.

The eighth and final goal of the match came on an own goal from a St. Andrews defender in the 86th minute.

Seniors Paradise and Lawrence combined for the shutout with Lawrence making the only save for the Bobcats. The Knights keeper, William Williams, made eight saves, five in the second half.

Lees-McRae outshot St. Andrews 30-3 and held a 10-1 corner kick advantage.

The Bobcats front line was called offsides 16 times in the match.

“I am very proud of this senior class,” said Head Coach Chris Whalley. “They have played hard for me for four years now and [I’m] glad to see it has paid off. We played well tonight and took care of business. Now we have to get ready for Coker in the semifinals.”

Women’s Soccer
Lady Bobcats Advance to Semifinals with 1-0 Upset Win
Brittany Bolton made six saves and Maribeth Novak scored the game winning-goal as the fifth seeded Lees-McRae College Lady Bobcats upset the fourth seeded Queens University of Charlotte Royals in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament the Queens University Sports Complex on Monday, November 2.

With the win, the Lady Bobcats improve to 11-7-1 overall and advance to the semifinal round to face the No. 1 seed Belmont Abbey Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at The Abbey.

In the first half, Bolton turned away two Queens shots to keep the match 0-0 heading into the intermission.

In the 60th minute, Tiffany Coleman drew a free kick from a Queens’ defender to set up Novak’s game winner. Novak took the free kick from 30 yards out and put the shot over the keeper’s head.

Bolton made three more saves following the goal, all one-on-one, to secure the win. She made a total of five second-half saves to earn the shutout.
Queens outshot Lees-McRae 10-9 and held a 7-4 corner kick advantage.

“This was the best I have ever seen (goalkeeper) Brittany Bolton play in the net,” said Head Coach Renee Lopez. “She had the game of her life and made this win possible. Maribeth made a fantastic finish on that long range set piece, but I credit the entire team for 90 minutes of outstanding work ethic.

“Last spring, these seven seniors set the goal of being in the semifinals and have worked every minute to help get the team to that point,” Lopez continued. “This team has now seen what hard work, dedication and commitment to each other can lead them to achieve. Now we prepare for Belmont Abbey for these Semifinals!”

The Lady Bobcats advance to the semifinals for the first time under Lopez and for the first time since joining the Conference Carolinas.