Box Score Sept. 30, 2014
Box Score
WALESKA, Ga. - The Georgia Gwinnett men's soccer team certainly had more than their fair share of possession on Tuesday afternoon, but the final passes in the attacking third weren't crisp enough as the No. 8 Grizzlies fell 1-0 to 24th-ranked Reinhardt at Ken White Field.
"We picked a bad day to not play one of our better games," GGC Head Coach Steve DeCou said. "They were better than we were today, but it wasn't like they overpowered us. We just couldn't get that final ball, and we made too many mistakes."
Neither team was able to break through in the opening stanza. Zach Mruk nearly gave GGC a lead late in the half, as only a leaping save by RU goalkeeper Matt Amis prevented the would-be goal in the 41st minute.
However, the Eagles (7-0) came out of the break strong, stringing together a handful of chances as Jose Rubio broke the deadlock with a header off a cross in the 68th minute.
Martin Lugo, who had scored in each of the previous two meetings between RU and GGC, nearly put things on level once more after he was played through by Tyler Woodruff. The Lawrenceville native had his first attempt saved by Amis, but it was deflected back toward Lugo before Amis scrambled to recover it.
Overall the two teams finished even in shots with 11 each, and both Amis and GGC goalkeeper Lewis Sharpe ended the day with four saves.
The loss marked just the second on the season for the Grizzlies as they fell to 6-2-1 on the year. Both losses have come on the road to ranked opponents, the last being at Thomas earlier this month.
Immediately following the game, Tuesday's national polls were released, which saw the Grizzlies drop from No. 7 to No. 8 and RU move up to No. 24. Thomas was named the No. 1 team in the country for the first time in their history.
GGC will return to action next week as Talladega will make the trek to Grizzly Soccer Complex.
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