The Georgia Gwinnett women's soccer team won its seventh contest of the 2016 season on Wednesday night, defeating Point (Ga.) 2-1 in what head coach Chris Kouns called the squad's "best effort all season."

The Grizzlies (7-6-1) ended Point's eight-match winning streak in the victory as the Skyhawks dropped to 10-3-1 on the year. 

Sophomore Ana Gonzalez led the Grizzlies to the 2-1 victory, scoring both goals.  Lauren Moss set up both of GGC's scores for the Grizzly striker with long balls from 30-plus yards out on each goal.



"Tonight's match was a gut-check," said Kouns. "We dominated play in the first half but couldn't land a shot in the net.  We addressed our mistakes at the half and came out focused and determined to win the game.  Even though we trailed early in the second half, our ladies refused to back down and did their jobs when it mattered most to win the match."

The first half of the defensive battle ended in a scoreless draw.  While the Grizzlies outshot the Skyhawks 10-3 in the opening frame, Point's starting goalkeeper, Natalie Brown, kept the match even with a game-high six saves.

GGC regrouped at the intermission and came out firing in the second half.  In the 50th minute, the Grizzlies narrowly missed scoring the match's first goal when midfielder Samantha Buchanan's shot hit the bottom edge of the crossbar before being cleared by a Skyhawk defender.

In the 55th minute, Point capitalized on a GGC defensive coverage error to take the 1-0 lead.  Forward Celly Ruiz received a long ball from Erin Elmore from 20 yards out, side-stepped to her left, and then fired a strike to the upper right-hand corner of the net to give the Skyhawks the advantage.

Seven minutes later, Gonzalez netted the equalizer for the Grizzlies.  Moss lifted an entry pass from just past the midfield line, allowing Gonzalez to gather the ball, turn to her right, and flick a high lob towards the goal that bounced over the Skyhawk keeper and into the net.

In the 70th minute, Gonzalez and Moss teamed up again for the game-winner.  Moss once again heaved a ball from distance to Gonzalez who placed a header in the upper left-hand corner of the goal, securing the 2-1 Grizzly advantage.

GGC goalkeeper Sophie Hoare made a clutch save in the 85th minute to keep the Grizzlies ahead as she made a point-blank glove save on a shot by Elmore from five yards out.

Kouns reflected on the moment, "Sophie's save in the final minutes of the match was the spark we needed to close out the game.  Overall, I'm extremely proud of the team's effort tonight as they turned in the best all-around performance so far this season."

Georgia Gwinnett continues its homestand Saturday, Oct. 15 when the Grizzlies host No. 5 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at 7:00 p.m. at the Grizzly Soccer Complex in Lawrenceville.

Game day coverage against the Blue Raiders: 
Live Statistics
Live Video

Scoring Summary
54:24 – (Point) Celly Ruiz, assisted by Erin Elmore
62:49 – (GGC) Ana Gonzalez, assisted by Lauren Moss
69:40 – (GGC) Ana Gonzalez, assisted by Lauren Moss

By the Numbers
2 – Saves made by GGC goalkeeper Sophie Hoare
2 – Goals scored by Georgia Gwinnett
3 – Days until the Grizzlies face Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
17 – Number of shots taken by the Grizzlies
23 – Combined shots taken in the match by GGC and Point

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