Box Score COLUMBIA, Ky. – It was always going to be a daunting task on Thursday night, and the Georgia Gwinnett women's soccer team proved unable to pull off the upset, falling 2-0 to No. 1-ranked and defending national champion Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at Walter S. Reuling Stadium.
"I am absolutely proud of the fight, effort and work these 16 players put in tonight," GGC head coach Chris Kouns said. "To come up here short-handed against the national champions on their senior night and see the team play as hard as they did is something that we can definitely build from. We really only had a two-minute lapse, and that was the game."
The Blue Raiders (13-1-2), who have spent the entirety of the season ranked at the top of the NAIA poll, took over a half an hour to unlock the Grizzly defense as Fabienne Rochaix found the back of the net in the 33rd minute. In the 35th, Isobel Dalton doubled the advantage to account for the game's final score.
"Nikki LeFevre probably had the game of her life, and both Tiffany Rodriguez and Lauren Moss worked very hard for us in the midfield," Kouns said. "I'm also very proud of Courtney McKenzie's night in goal. She made five saves back there tonight. It was a great effort all around, even if we didn't get the result that we would have liked."
GGC, which was playing an opponent ranked inside the NAIA top 10 for the fourth time this season, dropped to 9-6-1, and another challenge lies ahead on Sunday as the Green and Gray will welcome 2014 NAIA national semifinalist Embry-Riddle to Grizzly Soccer Complex.
Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m., and prior to the match, GGC will pay tribute to its four seniors with a special ceremony at midfield.
NOTES: GGC has never beaten a ranked opponent, posting an 0-8-1 record … The Grizzlies are now 2-1 all-time vs. the state of Kentucky … With eight assists on the year, Bristol Countess now stands just one shy of tying Valeria de Santiago for the single-season assists record … Defender Mary Vernetti, with 28 career goals, is GGC's all-time leading scorer … Kelsey Griswold, a senior defender has played in all 71 matches in school history … GGC is 20-5-3 all-time in the month of October.
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