Jamie Achten Battles for Lady Flames Story by; George Starr - Sports Information
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Fresh off a goal some 10 days ago in a World Cup match for Wales, Emma Plewa returned to the Lee campus and broke free of Auburn Montgomery keeper Daisy Burnfield in the 67th minute to propel the Lady Flames to a hard earned 2-0 win.
After being rained out last weekend, Lee (5-2, 1-0) finally was able to play its first Southern States Athletic Conference match of the season. The visiting Lady Senators (6-3, 2-2) fought Matt Yelton’s fourth-ranked team the entire 90 minutes on a near-perfect evening for soccer.
In fact, senior Marina Lima scored just before the final horn sounded to give the Lady Flames the 2-0 edge. Lima's shot, just inside the left corner, hooked around the AUM keeper and into the right side of the net.
Plewa’s earlier goal was assisted by Kim Conrad. Burnfield came out to challenge the talented freshman forward and lost her footing as Plewa powered ahead at full speed.
Only 20 shots were attempted in the defensive struggle. Lee's third-ranked club put eight shots on target and AUM had four shots on goal. Burnfield was credited with six saves and Lee freshman keeper Leah Wilson had four saves – one coming late in the second half.
“First and foremost my hat is off to AUM,” said Yelton. “They are a much improved side and it is probably their best team since the 2004 season. They gave a great effort tonight and I think have a very bright season in front of them.”
On the other hand, Yelton said, “I thought we did some good things tonight at times. We played some decent balls into space, our service was good, and we combined well out of midfield. But the final product was missing and we have to learn to be hungrier to score goals.”
The Lee coach pointed out that he thought his club had some really good individual performances. “I thought Emma (Plewa) was at the best she has been so far this season. Kim (Conrad) has worked her socks off in midfield since she got here and had another strong performance tonight.”
Yelton added, “I felt like our back four were good again tonight and we put together another shutout and that’s another positive to take out of the evening.”
“However,” he stressed, the SSAC is a lot better this year, and we need to make sure that we aren’t taking the success we have had the last several years for granted.”
For the record, it was Lee’s 45th straight victory in conference play, dating back to the TranSouth Conference days. The Lady Flames will return to action on Thursday and host Faulkner University in a SSAC match slated for 7 p.m.
-Lee University - Sports Information
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