The backline defensive unit provided the scoring punch as the Georgia Gwinnett College men's soccer team broke out of a recent offensive slump for a 3-1 home victory against Talladega College (Ala.) on Saturday afternoon in a matchup of Association of Independent Institutions opponents at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

The three goals scored are the most tallies for the Grizzlies (5-5-1) in the past four matches (when the team averaged 0.5 goals and had a 1-3 record), the most goals scored in a home match this season and ties for the second-most goals accounted for in a match.

Senior defender Andrew White scored the first two goals of the match, while junior defender Malik Thornell finished off a rebound effort to cap GGC's scoring.

White successfully converted a penalty kick in the 17th minute after a foul was committed inside the 18-yard box in front of Talladega's goal.

Then, the Coundon, England, native dazzled the crowd with a strike that he drilled into the goal from nearly 70 yards away, giving the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead in the 54th minute. White caught Talladega goalkeeper Pierre Kamgang wandering away from the box and there was no pressure from the Tornadoes. So, he drilled a line drive shot that went over the goalkeeper and into the open net.

GGC took a 3-0 lead in the 72nd minute when Thornell pounced on a save from an initial shot from sophomore Toni Tiente.

Talladega (6-4) got one goal back following a corner kick in the 81st minute of the match. However, the GGC defense kept the Tornadoes away from the goal the rest of the way to preserve third home-match victory of the season.

GGC had 10 shots in the match with five being on goal.

Both teams could have a rematch in the semifinal round in next month's A.I.I. championship tournament in Lawrenceville. GGC is No. 2 and Talladega is No. 3 in the latest conference rankings.


 
Coach's Corner
"It is good to be back in the win column. I thought we did a lot of things very well. Even though we didn't have the number of shots, the shots we did take were very good. Except for their lone goal off a corner (kick), most of their shots were from distance and didn't trouble (goalkeeper) Matija (Gligorovic). I thought we were in control throughout the match," said Head Coach Steve DeCou.
 
Turning Point
It was still anybody's game in the second half, with GGC leading 1-0. That all changed with one strike of the ball from midfield. Senior Andrew White collected a ball and surveyed the defense. Observing Talladega's goalkeeper being away from the box in front of the goal, the defender elected to send a shot towards the goal. The line drive caught the goalkeeper and defense off guard, finding the back of the net after a couple of bounces.
 
Goals
17' – Andrew White, GGC (penalty kick)
54' – Andrew White, GGC (unassisted)
72' – Malik Thornell, GGC (Toni Tiente)
81' – Everson Jean, TC (unassisted)
 
Inside The Numbers

• Both teams had five shots on goal
• Sophomore Toni Tiente attempted a match-high three shots
• All six of GGC's corner kicks came in the second half
• Georgia Gwinnett scored at least three goals in a match four times this season

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 5-5-1 on the season; Talladega falls to 6-4 this fall
• The Grizzlies were receiving votes in this week's NAIA Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College leads the all-time series 3-0
• GGC is 3-1 at the Grizzly Soccer Complex this season
• Both teams are members of the Association of Independent Institutions, and could meet again in the conference's postseason tournament which GGC will host Nov. 9-10

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College travels to Reinhardt University on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. in Waleska, Ga.