Box Score LAWRENCEVILLE – Dominique Fletcher and Sam Thomas each netted hat tricks on Wednesday night as the Georgia Gwinnett women's soccer team tied a school record with a dominating 10-0 victory over visiting Talladega at Grizzly Soccer Complex.
The win came on the heels of a 9-0 victory over Shawnee State this past Saturday, and it tied the previous mark for goals scored and margin of victory, which was set in last season's 10-0 romp over Tennessee Temple. It also marked the fifth win in five opportunities for GGC at home this season as the Green and Gray improved to 5-4-1 on the year.
"Of course we're pleased to have put together another performance like this," GGC head coach Chris Kouns said. "It's another step as we continue progressing for the conference tournament next month. I have to give credit to Talladega for continuing to fight, even with the scoreline. I think that if we continue to play the way we played tonight, especially in the second half, it will definitely make us a better program."
Talladega, which was playing in its first match since Sept. 27, fell to 3-4 on the year.
Stina Andersson fired the opening salvo just 11 minutes into the match, putting a cap on some nice build-up play from Lina Blomqvist and Tiffany Rodriguez to make it 1-0. Rodriguez would double the advantage in the 27th when she converted from the penalty spot before a late four-goal flurry gave the Grizzlies an insurmountable lead at the break.
Fletcher kicked off the surge by latching onto a loose ball in the midfield and finishing past Talladega goalkeeper Eyanee Donaway in the 36th before she turned it over to fellow sub Thomas for a show-stopping finish to the half. Thomas netted her first goal just three minutes later and then scored twice in the 45th, with her last shot crossing the goal line with only one second remaining in the opening stanza.
It would be more one way traffic in the second half as Fletcher scored in the 49th and 52nd to make it 8-0, and Blomqvist closed out the affair with two goals of her own to put the Green and Gray in double digits for the second time in school history.
Thomas and Fletcher each tied a school record for most goals in a match, joining teammates Mary Vernetti and Nikki LeFevre as well as former Grizzly Amanda Dale.
Courtney Hicks and Courtney McKenzie split time in goal for GGC, and with three combined saves, the duo helped the Grizzlies log back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season.
The Grizzlies will return to action on Monday with a trip to Cumberland. Kickoff in Lebanon, Tenn., is slated for 3 p.m.
NOTES: Wednesday was the first-ever meeting between the Grizzlies and the Tornadoes … GGC is now 3-4 all-time vs. the state of Alabama and 1-1 this season … Sam Thomas and Dominique Fletcher logged the fourth and fifth hat tricks in school history, and they are the only duo to accomplish the feat in the same match … Defender Mary Vernetti, with 28 career goals, is GGC's all-time leading scorer … Kelsey Griswold, a senior defender, has played in all 65 matches in school history … GGC is 16-3-3 all-time in the month of October.
###
