ANDERSON, S.C. – Lees-McRae freshman James Smith knocked home the game-winning goal with just 39 seconds remaining in overtime, as No. 6 seed Lees-McRae slipped past third-seeded Anderson, 3-2, in opening round action of the 2011 NCAA Men’s Soccer Southeast Region Wednesday afternoon at Trojan Stadium.
Trailing by a pair of goals at the half, Anderson (17-4) rallied with two second-half scores in an 11-minute span to send the contest into extra time. The overtime frame was nothing new to the two squads, as AU and Lee-McRae have squared off seven times in the past five seasons, with five of those contests being decided in overtime.
Lees-McRae (15-5-1) avenged a regular-season setback at the hands of the Trojans and snapped AU’s home win streak at 16. The Bobcats advance to meet second-seeded Flagler Friday afternoon at Coker College in Hartsville, S.C. Kick-off versus the Saints is slated for 4:30 at the Coker Soccer Field.
Both teams entered the opening round as tournament tested, with the Bobcats making their fifth consecutive appearance, while Anderson made its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance.