Emmanuel College Sports Information Department

FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga.--- The Emmanuel Soccer Lions started their Conference Carolinas campaign with a tricky home fixture to King University. The Lions started the half well pressuring the visiting Tornado high up the field, limiting them to just one chance in the first half, which was saved well by freshmen goalkeeper Ryan Brose. The Lions enjoyed some good position in the first half but were unable to muster a quality scoring opportunity and the teams went into the half scoreless.

The Lions started the second half the better of the two teams with two early efforts on goal which were turned away by the King goalkeeper. Emmanuel continued to press the Tornado defense high up the field but King broke their pressure in the 52ndminute and opened scoring through Chris Hicks.

Emmanuel started to commit more players into the attack as they went in search of the equalizer, and when the Lions failed to recover from a free kick deep in their attacking half Alfred Schwab was at hand to double the Tornado lead.

The Lions continued to pressure the Tornado defense and registered a further three shots on goal as they tried to get back into the game. The Lions finally broke through in the 79th minute when Shannon Crooks collected the ball on the right and floated a ball into the box which was met by the head of Wright who beat the onrushing goalkeeper and netted his second goal of the season.

Emmanuel had a chance to tie the game in the last minute when an Alex Wright free kick found the head of freshmen Freddy Valentin but he couldn't keep his header down and the score ended 2-1 in Kings favor.

When asked for his thoughts on the game Coach Borchers had this to say "Of course I'm disappointed in the end result, but I give credit to King University, they were a solid side. I was happy with a majority of the performance from the team through the game. We are getting better every game, and that is something to be happy about."

The Lions are in action again on Tuesday when they take onToccoa Falls College, with kick off scheduled for 7pm.