The good times continue for the Georgia Gwinnett College men's soccer team, with two second-half goals leading to a 2-1 victory against top-seeded and No. 6-ranked Bellevue University and capturing the 2018 Association of Independent Institutions men's soccer championship on Saturday evening at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

The victory secures a berth in the NAIA national tournament for the Grizzlies, which won their seventh straight match of the season to improve to 11-5-1 for the season. It was the first loss of the season for Bellevue (17-1-2).

This is GGC's fourth conference title in six seasons of postseason eligibility. The team has played in the conference's postseason tournament championship match every season.

Sophomore Myles Barber drilled a shot past the Bellevue goalkeeper from the edge of the 18-yard box in the 56th minute for the eventual game-winning goal.

After trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Grizzlies tied the match in the 50th minute on an own goal after a pass from freshman Omar Thali was deflected into the Bellevue goal by one of the Bruins' players.

Bellevue got on the scoreboard in the 30th minute when Travis Hurd converted a breakaway opportunity.

The Grizzlies outshot Bellevue by a 9-to-6 margin and had five corner kicks.

Senior defender Andrew White was named the championship tournament's most valuable player. Meanwhile, sophomores Myles Barber, Krishna Clarke, Michael Weber and Toni Tiente earned a spot on the all-tournament team.
 
Turning Point
Down a goal early in the second half, the Grizzlies grabbed momentum of the match on a hustle play by freshman Omar Thali. The forward kept a pass in play before attempting a crossing pass from the right sideline. The ball deflected into the goal off a Bellevue player for an own goal that squared the match at 1-1. It was the spark that the Grizzlies needed. Six minutes later, sophomore Myles Barber drilled a shot past the Bellevue goalkeeper for the eventual game-winning tally.



 
Goals
30' – Travis Hurd, BU (Kortlan Franke)
50' – Own goal, GGC
56' – Myles Barber, GGC (Michael Weber, Toni Tiente)
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies outshot Bellevue by a 9-to-6 margin in the match
• Two of GGC's four shots on goal found the back of the net
• The team attempted five corner kicks in the 90-minute contest
• Fourteen GGC players saw playing time in the championship match

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 11-5-1 on the season and has won its last seven matches; Bellevue stands 17-1-2 in 2018
• The Grizzlies are 7-1 at home this fall
• GGC was the No. 2 seed in the A.I.I. men's soccer championship tournament, while Bellevue was the No. 1 seed
• Georgia Gwinnett College is receiving votes in the final regular-season NAIA Top 25 poll; Bellevue is ranked No. 6 in the same poll
• The Grizzlies won their fourth A.I.I. championship in the program's six seasons in history

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College earns the A.I.I.'s automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament. NAIA Opening Round sites and matches will be announced on Monday, Nov. 12.