Lions drop heartbreaking home opener, 3-2

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill Lions allowed three unanswered goals to fall to King University at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium by a score of 3-2.  Stian Sanner scored the Lions first goal of the season.

Carlos Saavedra would bookend the victory with his first two goals of the season.

King started their comeback late in the first half with a tally from Saavedra.  Michael Young sent the ball inside the box and found the foot of Saavedra, who tapped it in behind Lions goalkeeper Ben Lucas.

His second goal was the game-winning marker with less than 12 minutes remaining in the contest.  Starting and finishing a beautiful give-and-go up the left-wing with Luis Calderon, Saavedra sped down the wing and beat Lucas between the legs for his second of the season.

Sandwiched in between was Ben Harris' first goal of the 2017 campaign.  Getting an edge on a two-on-two rush, a crossing pass from Saavedra found Harris' right foot for a redirect to tie the game at two, 52:46 into the contest.

The Lions jumped out to an impressive start in the first half with two goals.  Sanner opened the scoring at 18:24 of the first half by burying a rebound past Jake Davis.  It was the first Lions' goal of the season.

Less than nine minutes later, Jordan Lennon would capitalize from a free kick taken by Sam Roe.  Lennon was waiting inside the box from three yards out and knocked home the goal to give the Lions a 2-0 advantage.

Despite the disappointing result, head coach Gary Hamel was impressed with what he saw out of his team.

"The first 30 minutes we played was some of the best soccer since my first year here.  We need to keep doing that and playing as a team."

Mars Hill will be back in action on Wednesday, September 13 when they take on SAC rival in their first conference match of the season, Carson-Newman University.  Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.