Three goals within the first 23 minutes paved the way for the Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team to capture the 2018 Association of Independent Institutions championship, defeating No. 2-seeded Viterbo University (Wis.) 4-0 on Saturday at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

As A.I.I. champions for the second straight season, the Grizzlies (16-3) earn an automatic berth to the NAIA national tournament. Opening Round sites and matches will be announced on Monday, Nov. 12.

Senior Caitlin Berry scored two goals in the championship match to be named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. She also added a goal in Friday's semifinal victory against Washington Adventist University (Md.)

Freshman Joy Mertzig gave the top-seeded Grizzlies the early lead by finding the back of the net off a corner kick in the seventh minute. Berry's first goal of the match gave GGC a 2-0 lead in the 14th minute.

Freshman Victoria Bischof netted a breakaway goal in the 23th minute as the No. 1-seeded GGC took a 3-0 halftime lead.

Berry's second goal came off a cross from senior Ana Gonzalez in the 59th minute. Gonzalez provided three assists in the victory.

Seniors Lauren Moss, Nicole Rodriguez and Macarena Errazuriz joined junior goalkeeper Elisa Randel on the 2018 A.I.I. women's soccer all-tournament team.

GGC won both A.I.I. tournament games through shutouts, with Randel in goal, and outscored its two opponents by a 10-0 margin and outshot them 39-to-6.

The Grizzlies' season continues after winning their sixth straight match, posting their 12^th shutout of the season and the 16 victories for the season are a program high.
 
Turning Point
For the second straight match, the tournament hosts removed any doubt of an upset bid by scoring in the first seven minutes of the match. A corner kick provided the first goal for GGC. Senior Ana Gonzalez delivered a corner kick into the 18-yard box. Senior Macarena Errazuriz got a touch and sent the ball onto freshman Joy Mertzig. The midfielder took advantage of the opportunity by burying the shot into the back of the net.
 
Goals
7' – Joy Mertzig, GGC (Macarena Errazuriz, Ana Gonzalez)
14' – Caitlin Berry, GGC (Victoria Bischof)
23' – Victoria Bischof, GGC (Ana Gonzalez)
59' – Caitlin Berry, GGC (Ana Gonzalez)
 


Inside The Numbers

• GGC held a commanding 21-to-6 shot advantage over the 90 minutes of action
• Senior Ana Gonzalez had three assists in the victory
• Senior Lauren Moss and freshman Joy Mertzig each attempted five shots for the Grizzlies
• GGC shutout both opponents in the conference tournament victory by a total 10-to-0 margin
• The team has had 12 shutouts among its 16 victories
• The Grizzlies have won six straight matches

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 16-3 on the season; those 16 victories are a new high for the program; Viterbo ends the 2018 season with a 10-9 record
• The Grizzlies are ranked No. 7 in the final regular season NAIA Top 25 poll; it is the highest national ranking in program history
• The team is 9-1 at the Grizzly Soccer Complex this fall
• Georgia Gwinnett was the No. 1 seed in the tournament; Viterbo was the No. 2 seed and Saturday was a rematch of last year's semifinal contest, won by GGC 4-3 in penalty kicks
• GGC has won the last two A.I.I. tournament championships

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College has earned 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.