Emmanuel holds off Panthers' second half rally
Sept. 27, 2007

FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – LaGrange College's late rally came up short as Emmanuel College held on for a 3-2 win Thursday. The loss dropped the Panthers to 1-7 on the season. The Lions got their first win of the season after nine losses and a tie.

The Panthers fell behind 3-0 early in the second half. They rallied behind the combination of Kojo Cole-Kesse and Mohamed Sesay.

Sesay fed Cole-Kesse at the top of the box. Cole-Kesse turned a put a shot past Emmanuel goalkeeper Kirstoff Thompson into the upper right corner of the goal to make it 3-1.

The duo worked together to get the Panthers within a goal 15 minutes later. With his back to the goal, Cole-Kesse flicked in a header off Sesay's pass into the box that cut the Lions' lead to 3-2. It would be as close as the Panthers would get.

Emmanuel had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half. Panther goalkeeper Ben Rollins stopped Phillip Sanders' penalty kick, but Sanders was able to put the rebound past Rollins for the first goal of the game. The Lions took advantage of a turnover by the Panthers to score again. Andrew Mack got the goal, beating Rollins to make it 2-0.

Emmanuel extended its lead to 3-0 early in the second half. Noel Abrego scored on a header off a corner kick by Ste Heu for the Lions.

Emmanuel finished the game with a 17-14 shot advantage. Rollins finished the game with six saves.

The Panthers host Maryville College on Saturday in a GSAC game at 7:30 p.m.