Aug 30, 2013

Box Score

Freshman Bethany Johnson scored twice, breaking a 1-1 tie midway through the second half as the Georgia Gwinnett women’s soccer team topped Faulkner University by a 2-1 score Friday night in Montgomery, Ala., in the Grizzlies’ first road game of the season.

The Grizzlies improved to 2-0 on the year while the Eagles, who appeared in last year’s NAIA national tournament, fell to 1-2.

“It was a battle out there and a well-fought game,” said GGC head coach Domenic Martelli. “Faulkner is a very good team. They defended very well and played a system that was difficult to defend. We are starting to do some really positive things out there and beginning to realize some of our potential.”

Georgia Gwinnett built quality chances early but the two teams weathered each other’s opportunities throughout much of the first half.

The Grizzlies followed with another series of attacks and capitalized with 13 minutes remaining in the half. Amanda Dale won a loose ball, moved through the Faulkner defense and fed a pass in to Johnson at the top of the box. The GGC freshmen turned and fired a rocket into the upper corner from 20 yards out to put GGC on top, 1-0.

Faulkner leveled things in the first 10 minutes of the second half, taking advantage of a Grizzlies turnover in GGC’s defensive end and using a bounce off the post for the tying score.

The Grizzlies would strike back in the 66th minute, building an attack down the left side that Dale fed across once more to Johnson in traffic, who put away her second score for the eventual game-winner.

Georgia Gwinnett continued to apply pressure down the stretch and turned away Faulkner’s last-gasp effort to seal the 2-1 victory.

“We still need to cut out some mistakes out there but tomorrow gives us another chance to go out and work towards a positive result,” Martelli added.

The Grizzlies turn around quickly to face Virginia Intermont Saturday at 4 p.m. in Lawrenceville at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

The game, plus live stats, will be available on the Grizzly Digital Network here, beginning at 3:45 p.m.

Single-game general admission tickets are $5 for Adults, while Youth/Seniors/Military are just $3. Children five and under are free. Admission is also free for GGC students, faculty and staff with a valid Claw Card.

Free parking is available in the parking deck at the main entrance to the GGC campus off Collins Hill Road.

Fans can join the conversation all season long by using the hashtags #grizzlysoccer and #grizzlyathletics.