Sophomore Toni Tiente scored in the 42nd minute for the lone goal by the No. 8-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College men's soccer team in a 2-1 setback to Dalton State College in the Grizzly Classic on Monday afternoon at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

The Grizzlies (2-2-1) split the Labor Day weekend matches, after being victorious 2-0 against Johnson & Wales University (Fla.) on Saturday.

GGC fell behind in the match after a goal on a penalty kick, and responded before halftime with Tiente's shot from 20 yards away evaded Dalton State goalkeeper Samuel Fraire.

Then, the hosts played the second half short-handed by one player after a red card was assessed by the referee in the final minute of the first half. Dalton State (3-1-1) took advantage, having 11 of its 16 shot attempts in the last 45 minutes of action. Eventually, Jose Villalobos gave the visitors the lead for good in the 79th minute with a goal from 20 yards away from the Grizzlies' net.
 


Coach's Corner
"I was extremely proud of the effort that the guys put forth out on the field today. We had two options at halftime: accept the challenge of the short-handed situation or sit back and lose by a 3-1 or 4-1 score. Our effort in the second half was unbelievable. It took a Herculean effort (by Dalton State) on the goal. We're learning how to deal with adversity and to deal with tough times," said Head Coach Steve DeCou.
 
Turning Point
With the match deadlocked at 1-1 and GGC forced to defend the entire second half short-handed, with only 10 players, it appeared the contest was headed to overtime. However, Dalton State's Jose Villalobos drilled a shot from nearly 30 yards away to give the visiting Roadrunners the decisive 2-1 advantage in the 79th minute of the match.
 
Goals
8' – Sebastian Guzman, DSC (penalty kick)
41' – Toni Tiente, GGC (Omar Thali)
79' – Jose Villalobos, DSC (Daniel Valenciano)
 
Inside The Numbers

• Dalton State held a 16-to-12 shot advantage in the match, including an 11-4 mark in the second half, when the team had a one-player advantage on the pitch
• Senior Herb Sevilla led the Grizzlies with three shot attempts
• Georgia Gwinnett College played the entire second half with 10 players after a red card was issued in the final minute of the first half

 
News & Notes

• GGC stands 2-2-1 on the season; Dalton State improves to 3-1-1
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 8 in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll; Dalton State was receiving votes
• Monday's match is the first meeting between the two Georgia teams

 
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College travels to Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. from Columbia, Ky.