Box Score
Wingate, N.C.----The Lees-McRae College Bobcats handed fifth-ranked Wingate University its first loss of the 2013 season, defeating the host Bulldogs 2-1 in NCAA Division II men's soccer action. The Bobcats improve to 1-3 overall while Wingate falls to 3-1 on the season.
Lees-McRae got on the board 27 minutes into the contest when
Scott Alford headed in a free kick from
Andrew Shoemaker. The Bobcats held a 1-0 advantage at halftime despite Wingate holding a 9-3 edge in shots.
Lees-McRae added to its lead 11 minutes into the second half.
Yago Xavier took a lead pass from
Jordan Wright and found the back of the net to push the advantage to 2-0.
Wingate cut the lead to one 10 minutes later. Senior forward
Fabio Azeredo (Sao Paulo, Brazil) fired a shot that was saved by LMC keeper
Thomas Rusling. Azeredo got the rebound, but his second shot was blocked by a defender. That would go back to Azeredo again, and with his third shot he found the back of the net for the first time this season.
The Bulldogs out-shot Lees-McRae 20-7 on the night, holding a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. Rusling had four saves for the Bobcats, while junior
Daniel DeGraff (Statesville, N.C.) collected one save for Wingate. The Bulldogs also held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Wingate returns to action Saturday, hosting Lenoir-Rhyne at 7 p.m. Lees-McRae hosts Belmont Abbey Saturday at 5 p.m.