Box Score Nov. 8, 2014
Box Score
Senior Sarah Murphy- one of seven Grizzlies playing in their final home contest on Saturday- posted a goal and two assists to steer the Georgia Gwinnett women’s soccer team to a 4-0 victory over Middle Georgia on Saturday in the Grizzlies’ regular-season finale in Lawrenceville.
The forward from Suwanee converted a penalty kick effort in the 65th minute, plus added an assist in each half as the Grizzlies posted their 10th victory.
Georgia Gwinnett (10-5-2) has now secured double-digit wins in each of its first three seasons. The squad will look for its first-ever postseason victory at next week’s Association of Independent Institutions championship tournament.
Saturday’s win, which capped the inaugural Homecoming celebration at Georgia Gwinnett College, featured four different goalscorers.
The Grizzly defense remained in strong form, allowing just three shots on the day to post its sixth shutout in the team’s last eight contests.
Prior to the game, Murphy, Jaclyn Bailey, Andreah Creevey, Kenzie Gray, Alex Hays, Erica Kiser and Sara Lindell were recognized for their contributions to the successful young program.
It was junior Mary Vernetti who opened the scoring just eight minutes into the contest, launching a header into the corner of the net on a loose corner kick situation for a 1-0 GGC lead. Vernetti’s eighth goal of the year moved her one off the team lead.
When Murphy drove in on target in the 30th minute, her strike to the lower corner forced a diving stop from the Middle Georgia (2-11-3) goalkeeper, and Tiffany Rodriguez immediately put away the rebound to double the Grizzlies’ advantage.
When the Knights were called for a handball in their defensive box while stopping a Grizzly attack, a penalty kick was awarded in the 65th minute and Murphy’s strike to the lower right corner gave the senior her third goal of the season.
With Hays and freshman Courtney Hicks combining for a shutout in goal, the GGC offense added its final score in the 87th minute as Murphy pushed to the end line and fed across the box to Bristol Countess, who launched a stellar shot over the goalkeeper’s head for the 4-0 margin.
The Grizzlies extended their unbeaten streak to eight games and have captured the second seed in the 2014 A.I.I. tournament next weekend at Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa. Georgia Gwinnett will take on the host and third-seeded Saints for the first time in program history in a 1 p.m. local time semifinal on Friday, Nov. 14.
