The No. 12-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team made history Monday afternoon with a 3-2 overtime victory against No. 1 William Carey University (Miss.), thanks to a goal from freshman Joy Mertzig in the 97th minute of the regular-season ending match in Hattiesburg, Miss.

The victory is the first over a No. 1-ranked NAIA opponent in the program's seven-season history.

Mertzig's match-winning goal came in a flurry of shot attempts by the Grizzlies inside the 18-yard box following a corner kick from senior Ana Gonzalez. Eventually, the freshman got a foot on the ball and drilled it into the back of the net in the team's first overtime session of the season.

GGC (14-3) never trailed in the match. Senior defender Stina Andersson gave the visitors an early lead in the 14th minute with her sixth goal of the season. Mertzig set up the scoring opportunity.

William Carey (15-2) squared the match shortly after the halftime break on a goal by Jamie Holifield in the 53rd minute.

However, senior Lauren Moss put the Grizzlies ahead again, 2-1, seven minutes later on an unassisted goal.

That lead held up until the Crusaders found the back of the net in the 82nd minute on a tally from Silvia Leonessi.

The two teams battled throughout the rest of the regulation and into the extra session, before Mertzig struck with the unassisted goal in the 97th minute.

Six of GGC's nine shots were on goal. Junior Elisa Randel made seven saves, including three crucial saves in the overtime period.

Georgia Gwinnett College enters postseason play on a four-match winning streak, with three of the wins coming against NAIA Top 25-ranked teams.
 
Coach's Corner
"Ana served a great corner kick and we kept shooting until it went in. This team has showed a lot of heart all season. What they have done the last two matches (victories at No. 1 William Carey and No. 17 University of Mobile) is remarkable. I couldn't be more proud of them," said Head Coach Dr. Mike Giuliano.
 
Turning Point
With the match's momentum seemingly turning toward the top-seeded Crusaders, the Grizzlies needed just one special moment to win the match. That opportunity came late in the first overtime period. Senior Ana Gonzalez had just entered the period as a sub just moments prior to taking a corner kick. The ball stayed in the opposing team's 18-yard box after a couple of shot attempts. Eventually, freshman Joy Mertzig got a foot on the ball and drilled it into the back of the net for the game-winning goal.
 
Goals
14' – Stina Andersson, GGC (Joy Mertzig)
53' – Jamie Holifield, WC (Silvia Leonessi)
60' – Lauren Moss, GGC (unassisted)
82' – Silvia Leonessi, WC (Shantel Thompson)
97' – Joy Mertzig, GGC (unassisted)
 
Inside The Numbers

• William Carey had a 23-to-9 shot advantage, including a 9-to-6 edge in shots on goal
• Georgia Gwinnett attempted five corner kicks
• Senior Lauren Moss led the Grizzlies with four shots
• Junior goalkeeper Elisa Randel made seven saves in picking up the victory
• Monday's match was the first overtime match for GGC this season

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 14-3 on the season; William Carey falls to 15-2 in 2018
• The Grizzlies are ranked No. 12 in this week's NAIA Top 25 poll; William Carey is No. 1 in the poll
• The team's No. 12 national ranking is the highest in the program's seven seasons
• Monday's win is the first over a No. 1 ranked team in program history
• GGC is 7-2 on the road this season and has won four straight matches, with three of the wins coming against Top 25-ranked teams.

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College opens play in the Association of Independent Institutions' Women's Soccer Championships with a semifinal matchup against Washington Adventist University (Md.) on Friday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m. at the Grizzly Soccer Complex. GGC is hosting the championship tournament.