Box Score Oct. 6, 2012
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Box Score
Despite outshooting the NAIA's top-rated team, the Georgia Gwinnett men's soccer team dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision to heavyweight Auburn Montgomery on Saturday on the Grizzly Soccer Field in Lawrenceville.
The Grizzlies (7-2-1) put together several fine chances, but Warhawks goalkeeper Vignir Johannesson made six key saves in net and kept GGC scoreless for the first time this season.
Angel Gonzalez tallied the game's lone goal for AUM midway through the second half.
Georgia Gwinnett finished with an 11-9 shot advantage in the game and had a goal called back on an offside violation as GGC dropped its first home game of the year.
Auburn Montgomery (9-2-1) currently stands first in the NAIA's modified RPI national ratings. They rank third in the coaches' poll and are receiving first-place votes.
"We certainly didn't get the result that we deserved today," said Grizzlies head coach Steve DeCou said after the close defeat. "The good news is that we stood toe-to-toe with one of the nation's top teams and gave them everything they could handle."
The Grizzlies held strong from the start and outshot AUM, 5-4, in a closely-played, scoreless first half.
Johan Sanchez had a breakaway chance stopped by a diving Johanneson and Tom Butler's apparent go-ahead score was whistled for an offside call in the 23rd minute after Martin Lugo served across a pass from the corner.
The Warhawks finally broke the scoreless affair in the 67th minute, when Gonzalez converted alone in front of the net after a long cross from teammate Axel Vignisson.
The Grizzlies mounted many scoring efforts in the final 15 minutes of the game, but could not tally the equalizer.
Butler broke in on goal with 10 minutes remaining, but a diving save from Johannesson kept it 1-0. GGC's Rene Enang also was stopped point-blank on a header attempt in the final minutes with a punch away from the goalkeeper.
Grizzly senior Greg Hartley made four saves in net as AUM's tally was just the third allowed by the Manchester, England, native all year.
"This type of result shows that our program is going to be on the forefront of the national stage, that is where we are headed," DeCou added Saturday.
The game was the Grizzly men's team's first outing on the school's new synthetic turf field on campus.
Georgia Gwinnett returns to action Friday, Oct. 12, hosting Crown College at 5 p.m.
