Box Score Jeremy Zalacca - Director of Athletic Communications
BANNER ELK, N.C. - The No. 7 Pfeiffer men's soccer team (6-1, 2-0 CC) scored four times in the second half to erase a 2-1 halftime deficit and defeated Lees-McRae (2-6, 2-3) by a final score of 5-2 on Saturday night. Jaime Siaj scored the Falcons fourth goal of the night and moved into a fifth place tie with 34 career goals and was one of five different Pfeiffer players to find the back of the net.
The Falcons would strike first in the contest as Cristobal Allendes' header would put the Falcons up 1-0. However, the Bobcats had a quick answer as Palle Jespersen scored just 51 seconds later. In the 41st minute, Thomas Deeley beat goalkeeper Nicolas Dulac on a penalty kick to give the Bobcats a one goal advantage going into the second half.
The Falcons were fired up coming out of the halftime break and Santi Moar would score just 2:19 into the final half to start the scoring onslaught. 6:41 later, Martim Galvao would put his free kick in the top corner of the net to put Pfeiffer ahead for good. The Bobcats were unable to slow the Falcon attack as Siaj and Julian Stifano scored 4:48 apart to give the Falcons a 5-2 lead.
"We didn't play well in the first half," commented reigning National Coach of the Year Bob Reasso. "Lees-McRae came out inspired so you need to give them credit. We came out in the second half and matched their effort and began to take the game over. It was a good result against a very well coached team."
After holding a narrow 7-6 lead in shots going into halftime, Pfeiffer outshot Lees-McRae 12-3 in the final 45 minutes. Pfeiffer also attempted seven of the eight corner kicks in the final frame.
Nicolas Dulac made three saves to improve to 3-0 in goal on the year. The senior now owns 36 career wins.
The Falcons have scored at least four goals in all of their wins on the campaign and are averaging 4.29 goals per game on the season.
Pfeiffer returns to action on Wednesday night as they travel to Tusculum at 6 p.m. in their final non-conference road match on the year. Last season, the Falcons defeated the Pioneers 3-0 to give Coach Reasso his 400th career victory.
