BANNER ELK, N.C. – With a chance to clinch a home game in the Conference Carolinas Tournament, the King University men's soccer team played from behind at Lees-McRae College on Tuesday night. King came back from a goal down twice, but couldn't take the lead as the Bobcats took the contest 4-2.

The game couldn't have started any better for Lees-McRae (10-5-1, 5-3-1 CC) as they found the back of the net in the 15th minute. Marvyn Rieger took a shot from outside the box that bounced over the Tornado keeper and in to give the Bobcats the 1-0 lead.

Play then went back-and-forth until the Tornado (7-8, 5-4 CC) broke through in the 36th minute as Ryan Murphy scored his fifth goal of the season. His shot from inside the box ricocheted off a Bobcat defender and got past the keeper to even the score at 1-1. King then controlled play for the rest of the half, and Hallgrimur Johannssonnearly put the Tornado ahead in the 42nd minute as he laced a shot from the top of the box that went straight down, but didn't cross the goal line as the score remained tied at halftime.

Lees-McRae pressured the Tornado early in the second half, and that pressure finally paid off in the 60th minute as Matthew Cureton ripped a shot that went of the keeper's hands and bounced to Maurice Kleinert who headed the ball into the empty net.

King then quickly moved play to the other end of the field and Eli Carrasco took a pass from Luis Calderonand ripped a laser into upper left 90 for the equalizer. After Carrasco had a shot blocked and Calderon had a shot saved, the Bobcats turned play to the other side of the field.

In the 79th minute, James Smith gave the lead back to Lees-McRae on a penalty kick, and the Bobcats added an insurance goal in the 82nd minute off a rebound to make the score 4-2. The Tornado had a couple chances late, but couldn't net the equalizer as they fell to the Bobcats 4-2.

Lees-McRae outshot the Tornado 19-9, including putting 10 shots on goal while King place three shots on target.

King will be in action again on Saturday when they host Barton College at 3:00 p.m. at Parks Field. It is also Senior Day on Saturday as the Tornado will honor their five seniors.

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