Box Score Sept. 13, 2014
Box Score
LAWRENCEVILLE - Jamie King fired the opening salvo, and Ibrahima Sissoko added another late as the Georgia Gwinnett men's soccer team held off Tennessee Temple for a 2-0 victory at the Grizzly Soccer Complex on Saturday.
It was as good a start as one could expect for the Grizzlies, who improved to 4-1 on the year and 2-0 at home, as King scored his fourth goal of the season in the seventh minute. Sissoko played the role of the facilitator, storming down the left side before serving up a ball to King's feet in front of goal, and the towering Englishman struck quickly, putting it past TTU goalkeeper Josue Fernandez.
"We like to say that we're trying to `feed the beast,'" explained GGC assistant Kevin May, who was the acting head coach for the Grizzlies on Saturday. "We play him in that position for a reason, and we want to get him the ball as many times as possible in and around the box. The early goal calmed the nerves a little bit, and it kept the other team from trying to sit back the whole game."
It's the second straight game that Sissoko picked up a first half assist, and he holds the team lead in the category with three through five games, and with 14 for his career, he trails only teammate German Rodriguez in the all-time category for GGC.
From there the game would turn a bit more physical as it featured a combined total of 23 fouls. However, GGC was still creating chances, finishing the first half with 11 shots, including six on frame.
Things got a little more even in the second stanza, as TTU was able to fire off six shots, including two on goal, but Lewis Sharpe, who also made an athletic save off a free kick in the first half, always proved up to the task and finished with three saves and a second consecutive shutout. The sophomore out of Durham, England, will be going into next week with a scoreless streak of 183 minutes and 44 seconds.
For the game, GGC out-shot the visitors from Chattanooga 18-9.
Sissoko, who had entered the game with four career goals against TTU, finally put the Crusaders at bay in the 89th minute with an impressive individual goal, creating some space on at the top of the 18-yard box, and pushing it past the keeper to the opposite post to make it 2-0. The Norcross product has now scored in all four games that TTU and GGC have ever played.
"I thought almost thought that streak was going to come to an end after he missed a chance earlier in the half," May said. "It's a credit to him that he got one late, and it was great finish to seal the win for us."
The Grizzlies will return to action on Tuesday with a match at second-ranked Auburn-Montgomery. Kickoff at AUM Soccer Complex is set for 5 p.m.
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