The Georgia Gwinnett men's soccer team was edged by West Virginia Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) on Saturday as the Grizzlies fell 4-3 to the Golden Bears, dropping their third straight contest.

The Grizzlies (3-3-1) managed three goals in the contest, but WVU Tech's Ignacio Tellechea stole the show, recording a hat-trick in the match to lead the Golden Bears to the win.



Tellechea scored the first goal of the match just 80 seconds into the contest. Just 60 seconds later, the Grizzlies would tie the match at 1-1 when sophomore center back Andrew White converted a penalty kick.  The penalty kick attempt was set up by a WVU Tech handball inside the 18-yard box.

The Golden Bears (5-1-1) regained a slight advantage in the 26th minute when Eduardo Gutierrez received a cross from Tellechea and flipped a chip shot past GGC keeper Lewis Sharpe.  Four minutes later, Tellechea struck again to give WVU Tech the 3-1 lead heading into the intermission.

A regrouped Grizzly squad struck back just 49 seconds into the second half, bringing GGC within one, 3-2, of WVU Tech.  Center back Ellis Husband lifted a long ball to Callum Lees, who handled the touch, split two WVU Tech defenders, and placed the ball into the back right corner of the net.

WVU Tech responded with a counter-punch in the 54th minute when Tellechea completed the hat-trick with his third goal of the match, putting the Golden Bears ahead 4-2.

While the Grizzlies brought the match within one goal in the 58th minute on a header by Samuel Sampaio Gomes, the early WVU Tech lead was too much to overcome as GGC fell 4-3.

Saturday's loss is the first defeat for the Grizzlies in 2016 at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.  The Grizzlies still hold a narrow advantage over opponents at home as GGC has outscored its competition 11-5 in Lawrenceville.

Georgia Gwinnett is back in action on Tuesday when it welcomes Bryan College (Tenn.) in a midweek showdown.  The first touch from the Grizzly Soccer Complex is set for 7:00 p.m.  During halftime, the Grizzlies will celebrate and recognize the GGC men's and women's tennis teams' 2016 NAIA National Championships.

Scoring Summary
01:20 – (WVUT) Ignacio Tellechea, assisted by Francisco Neto
02:28 – (GGC) Andrew White (penalty kick)
25:42 – (WVUT) Eduardo Gutierrez, assisted by Ignacio Tellechea
30:01 – (WVUT) Ignacio Tellechea, assisted by Daniel Ramirez
45:49 – (GGC) Callum Lees, assisted by Ellis Husband
53:23 – (WVUT) Ignacio Tellechea (unassisted)
57:12 – (GGC) Samuel Sampaio Gomes, assisted by Jack Gurr

By the Numbers
3 – Days until the Grizzlies face Bryan (Tenn.)
4 – Saves made by GGC goalkeeper Lewis Sharpe
9 – Number of shots taken by the Grizzlies
23 – Combined shots taken in the match

For all the latest on Grizzly Athletics, including news, scores, and features, visit GrizzlyAthletics.com.  Check out all the latest Grizzly Men's Soccer content and join the conversation by using @GGC_MSoccer on Twitter.
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