DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College women's soccer team (1-1-1, 1-1-1 CC) were defeated in their first home match of the seaon by Lees-McRae College (2-0, 2-0 CC) on Sunday afternoon at Huggins Field.
 
THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Table | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Erskine still leads the all-time series 10-6, but a Bobcats win on Sunday ended a four-match Fleet winning streak in the series.
 
THE MATCH
The first 45 minutes of the Fleet's home opener for the 2021 season was rather uneventful. Erskine controlled most of the possession in the first half, but tallied just two shots while limiting the Bobcats to just one attempt at the Erskine goal as the teams went into the halftime break scoreless. The visiting Bobcats began the second half on the front foot and won a penalty just seven minutes into the second period. Erskine goalkeeper Cheyenne Fuller saved the Lees-McRae penalty kick, but the Fleet gave up another penalty just moments later after the rebound off the initial penalty save went straight back to a Bobcats player. Lees-McRae changed penalty takers to Rachel Crum, who slotted home this chance and gave the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. Lees-McRae added a second goal less than five minutes later when Lauren Paulsen found the back of the net. That score remained the same until the 89th minute when a free kick taken by Jane Ashley Meredith was put into the net by a Bobcats player to cut the Lees-McRae lead in half for the closing seconds. But, the Bobcats saw out the final minute and held on for a 2-1 win against the Fleet.
 
WOMAN OF THE MATCH
Jane Ashley Meredith tallied one of the six Erskine shots and her free kick in the 89th minute led to a Lees-McRae own goal for the Fleet's only goal of the match.
 
THE TEAM
The Fleet tallied six shots, but just one was on target. Keeper Cheyenne Fuller made two saves on the four shots on goal she faced.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet are back on the road next weekend for a road match against Southern Wesleyan (0-3, 0-2 CC) on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The Warriors lead the all-time series 5-2-1 including a 1-0 win in Due West in the teams' last meeting back in November 2019. Erskine won the last match at Southern Wesleyan 3-1 in September 2018.
 
MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

    Visit the Official Home of Erskine Athletics at www.erskinesports.com
  
    Follow us on Social Media – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Photos