Box Score Sept. 21, 2014

Box Score

LAWRENCEVILLE - In the end, a pair of set pieces proved to be the difference as the Georgia Gwinnett women's soccer team fell 3-1 to visiting fourth-ranked Northwood on Sunday afternoon at Grizzly Soccer Complex.

It was an inauspicious start to the affair for the Grizzlies (4-4), as Northwood forward Johanna Engberg pounced on a chance deep in GGC territory to fire the game's opening salvo in just the second minute.

However, the lead would last for just 15 minutes as Mary Vernetti took off down the left flank and served in a perfect ball to a waiting Dominique Fletcher in front of goal to level the game. The assist was the first for Vernetti this season, and ties her with teammate Kelsey Griswold for the most in school history with 10. It was the second goal on the year for Fletcher.

GGC very nearly went ahead less than 10 minutes later as Griswold lined up a free kick from distance, but a deflection put the ball right into NU keeper Matilda Hjalte's hands to keep things even.

In the 39th, it was Stinne Larsen's turn for a deep free kick, and the power combined with a heavy wind on the day carried the ball over the outreached arms of goalkeeper Alex Hays to put the Seahawks (3-4-2) ahead late in the first half.

Neither team was able to establish much of a foothold as the second stanza unfolded, but another free kick, this time with Laursen setting up Wells for an 87th-minute header, sealed the win for the visitors from West Palm Beach, Fla.

"I actually thought we played really well on defense," GGC Head Coach Domenic Martelli said. "We didn't just defend in the back four but in the midfield as well. That's what's frustrating at times because I think we could have created more chances going forward. They scored off of two free kicks and a mix-up, but on the whole, we were able to keep them from creating good scoring chances."

The Grizzlies were out-shot 14-6 on the day. Two goalkeepers saw time in the net for the Green and Gray as Hays finished the first half with four saves and Magaly Gutierrez played the second half.

"I think this is the kind of game we're still learning how to play," Martelli explained. "Northwood has experience playing in big games, and we're only in our third year, and we're still learning how to keep our intensity up and stay competitive. That's something that we have to work on when we go to Brenau next weekend."

GGC will return to action next Saturday when they hit the road to take on the 17th-ranked Golden Tigers in Gainesville, Ga.

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