Converse Suffers First Loss to Lees-McRae
Banner Elk, NC — The Converse All-Stars soccer team lost for the first time this season in an offensive shootout. On a rain soaked field at Lees-McRae, the Lady Bobcats opened their Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference schedule with a wild 7-3 win over Converse College. The All-Stars drop to 2-1 (1-1 CVAC) with the loss. The win improves the Lady Bobcats record to 2-1 (1-0 CVAC).
Aerial Gregston got things started for the home side in the 19th minute with shot from the top of the 18 yard box that beat All Stars goalkeeper Kaitlyn Price. Heather Klaus continued the Lady Bobcats attack in the 38th minute connecting on an Ashley Splawn cross for her first of four goals, a career high. Six minutes later Klaus would beat her defender one on one from the corner and bury her second. Klaus completed the natural hat trick dribbling through a pair of All Stars defenders and rifling a shot past Price from just inside the 18 yard box in the 50th minute to give the Lady Bobcats a commanding 4-0 lead five minutes into the second half. Tiffany Coleman and Klaus then worked a give and go as Coleman found Klaus inside for her fourth goal of the game in the 57th minute.
The All Stars would continue to battle and cut the deficit to three off goals from Sarah Schiff, 76th minute, and Ashley Carry, 82nd minute. Schiff corralled a through ball to her feet and chipped a shot past Lady Bobcat’s goalkeeper Anita Hekman. Carry scored her third goal of the season past the out stretched hands of Hekman. Maribeth Novak would get one back for the Lady Bobcats in the 83rd minute with a shot from the top of the box that found the back of the net past All-Star Keeper Kelly Pannochia. With the score 6-2 in favor of the home side, Hekman’s clearing goal kick deflected off of Lady Bobcats defender Katherine Smith and into the net for an own goal. Jenna Simpson would restore the four goal cushion with two minutes to play beating her defender one on one.
Converse will face North Greenville University on Wednesday afternoon. Kick-off is at 4 pm at Hayden Abney Fulp Field on the Converse campus.
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