Box Score Aug 25, 2013
Box Score
Seniors Jocelyn Baker and Amanda Dale tallied for the Georgia Gwinnett women's soccer team and the Grizzlies made it stand up in the second half of a 2-1 season-opening victory over SCAD-Savannah on Sunday at the Grizzly Soccer Complex in Lawrenceville in front of over 300 spectators.
The Grizzlies (1-0) dropped the Bees, who were receiving votes in the opening NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll, to 0-2.
Goalkeepers Mo Gutierrez and Alex Hays split the game for GGC behind a Grizzly defense that allowed just two shots on goal all game.
"This was the biggest NAIA win we've had so far as a program," said Grizzlies head coach Domenic Martelli. "It was a battle all day against a very high quality team. We learned a lot today, especially in the second half when we had to keep some of their very athletic players from getting opportunities."
The Grizzlies came out with pace in the first half, setting the tone with fluid ball movement. In the 27th minute, the effort paid off. Baker collected a feed from Bethany Johnson in close and buried it past Bees goalkeeper Ciara Thomas for a 1-0 GGC lead.
Georgia Gwinnett continued the pressure and just over 10 minutes later, Dale made it 2-0 by moving around a defender near the edge of the box and drilling a score into the bottom corner.
The Grizzlies built an 18-9 shot advantage on the day, but SCAD's Meadhbh Deaney got free on the other end of a long cross right in front of the GGC net and made it 2-1 in the 60th minute.
Martelli's squad maintained possession through the crucial final minutes of the contest, limiting SCAD's chances to produce the tying score as GGC preserved the opening win.
The Bees were the first of four Sun Conference opponents this year for GGC, which plays four of the conference's preseason top five in 2013.
The Grizzlies return to the field Friday evening, Aug. 30, at Faulkner (Ala.).
