Box Score LAWRENCEVILLE – Just hours after watching the Ashford men's soccer team pick up a thrilling penalty shootout victory on Saturday, the Ashford women's team served up an equally dramatic encore, dispatching Georgia Gwinnett 2-1 in double overtime in the final match of the Association of Independent Institutions Soccer Championships at Grizzly Soccer Complex.
"I'm certainly gutted for the team because they played their hearts out tonight," GGC Head Coach Chris Kouns said. "We had some terrific chances to win it, but their goalkeeper came up huge with a couple of stops. Then they had what looked like a half chance, and it went in. Unfortunately, that's soccer sometimes. The team gave absolutely everything they had tonight. I'm tremendously proud of them. I'm pleased that we'll still get the opportunity to continue our season next week."
The winning goal, which came midway through the second overtime period, initially seemed unlikely as Ashford's Danielle Boyd appeared to be dribbling towards the endline for a cross. However, Boyd, who would later be named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, fired a shot from a tight angle that found the opposite side netting to bring the match to an end.
With the loss, GGC fell to 10-8-1 on the year, but after picking up their first-ever postseason victory on Thursday night, the season will continue in next week's NAIA National Championship Opening Round.
Meanwhile, Ashford, which is playing its last ever women's soccer season, improved to 14-4-1 and hoisted its first A.I.I. crown since 2012.
Things started off well enough for the Green and Gray on Saturday, as the team came out of the gate swinging, scoring inside the match's opening four minutes to put the visitors from Clinton, Iowa, on the back foot. A seemingly harmless free kick near midfield turned dangerous for Ashford when Kelsey Griswold picked up Amanda Yarger on a sprint up the sideline, and Yarger, in turn, launched a shot past Saints goalkeeper Nyla Peterkin.
It would be the only time that the Grizzlies would get the better of Peterkin on the night as the 2015 A.I.I. Goalkeeper of the Year came up with a number of highlight reel-worthy saves to keep Ashford in the match, none more important than a full-extension, diving effort to stop Amy Morland's would-be winner late in the first overtime period.
The Grizzlies out-shot Ashford 19-15 in the contest, with Peterkin coming up with seven saves on the eight shots that GGC would put on target.
A loose ball in the box allowed Ashford back into the game in the second half as Elizabeth Nardi fired a rebound into the back of the net in the 63rd minute to bring the match even at 1-1.
The Grizzlies will begin play in their first-ever NAIA National Championship tournament next Saturday, and the team will learn of its opponent in the annual selection show at noon on Monday.
NOTES: GGC is 1-3 all-time in the A.I.I. Championship tournament … Saturday was GGC's first-ever conference final … Defender Mary Vernetti, with 28 career goals, is GGC's all-time leading scorer … Kelsey Griswold, a senior defender, has played in all 74 matches in school history … GGC is 4-5 all-time in the month of November.
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