Box Score On Wednesday evening, the Georgia Gwinnett women's soccer team won its first contest over a Top 25 opponent in program history, upsetting No. 11 Cumberland (Tenn.) in a 3-1 victory.
"Tonight, I am beaming with pride because this team played to their full potential and took down the 11th-ranked team in the country; and they did it together," stated GGC head coach Chris Kouns. "I was really impressed that we were able to maintain our focus and our pressing for the full 90 minutes. We have been looking to get to that point all season, and everyone was there tonight."
Georgia Gwinnett (8-7-1) scored two quick goals in the first six minutes of the match to take the 2-0 advantage. First, sophomore Nicole Rodriguez netted a strike to the upper left-hand corner to give the Grizzlies the 1-0 lead. Three minutes later, sophomore Lauren Moss worked a ball through the midfield and flicked a touch pass ahead to senior striker Nikki LeFevre. The McDonough, Ga., native gathered the touch and charged towards the goal. LeFevre outpaced the trailing Cumberland defender before ripping a right-footed shot to the far right corner of the net.
Cumberland (10-2-1) cut the Grizzlies' lead in half in the 26th minute when Rebecca Holloway scored an unassisted goal on a breakaway.
Just 10 minutes before the intermission, sophomore Caitlin Berry gave GGC the 3-1 lead, scoring her first goal of the 2016 season.
Georgia Gwinnett played a sound second half of defense, limiting the Phoenix to nine shots and a scoreless frame.
Freshman goalkeeper Sophie Hoare collected her seventh win of the season in goal for the Grizzlies, hauling in five saves on the evening.
The Grizzlies are back in action on Saturday when they host Toccoa Falls (Ga.) in their Senior Day match during GGC's 3rd Annual Homecoming. Prior to kickoff, the Grizzlies will honor seniors Hannah Engelbracht, Tiffany Rodriguez, and LeFevre. First touch is set for 4:00 p.m.
Game day coverage against the Screaming Eagles:
Live Statistics
Live Video
Scoring Summary
02:34 – (GGC) Nicole Rodriguez, assisted by Ana Gonzalez
05:41 – (GGC) Nikki LeFevre, assisted by Lauren Moss
25:41 – (CU) Rebecca Holloway (unassisted)
36:31 – (GGC) Caitlin Berry (unassisted)
By the Numbers
3 – Days until the Grizzlies face Toccoa Falls (Ga.)
5 – Saves made by GGC goalkeeper Sophie Hoare
8 – Shots on goal for GGC
11 – Number of shots taken by the Grizzlies
26 – Combined shots taken in the match by GGC and Cumberland
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