HICKORY, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne women’s soccer team dropped their season opener 2-1 to the visiting Tampa Spartans on Thursday night.

Alexis Cagno scored Lenoir-Rhyne’s first goal of the season off a penalty kick early in the second half. Tied late, Tampa found an opening and scored the game winner with just under four minutes remaining.

The Bears dominated the opening half, out-shooting Tampa 9-3 and holding a 5-1 edge in shots-on-goal. Despite this, the teams went into the break tied at 0-0. Tampa struck first, with Kaleigh Hart slotting it in off the pass from Brielle Johnston. Lenoir-Rhyne came right back a minute later, winning a penalty kick which senior Alexis Cagno then converted. With the game seemingly headed towards a 1-1 draw, Tampa’s Ally Wold found herself open at the back of the net and chested in a pass to win the game.

The Bears are 1-3-1 all-time against Tampa, with their lone win coming in 1998. These teams last played in 2018, a double-overtime 1-1 draw. Despite their recent postseason success, the Bears are just 2-2-2 in their last six season openers. Cagno’s goal was the fourth of her career.

Lenoir-Rhyne will host Concord on Sunday a 1pm.

{Information provided by Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics}