Sophomore Gianmaria Fiore converted a penalty kick in the 47th minute to send the top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College men's soccer team to the championship match of the 2019 Association of Independent Institutions tournament, defeating No. 4 seed Lincoln College (Ill.) 1-0 on Friday evening at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

The penalty kick was awarded to the tournament host after a foul was committed inside Lincoln College's 18-yard box.

The Grizzlies (11-3-3) hit two goal posts during the first half and outshot Lincoln 16-3 throughout the contest. That margin was 10-0 after the opening 45 minutes of action.

Senior Sagi Hirsch hit the post twice in the first half. The first occurrence came off a free kick, while a shot from 25 yards away from goal hit the intersection of the crossbar and left post.

Meanwhile, junior goalkeeper Matija Gligorovic, the 2019 A.I.I. Goalkeeper of the Year, made a key save in the 88th minute when the Lynx had a free kick opportunity from just outside the GGC goal box. The shot bent around the team's wall of defenders and Gligorovic fielded the shot off a bounce.

Junior Marouane Zine and Hirsch each attempted three shots to lead GGC.

Georgia Gwinnett College is the defending A.I.I. tournament champion.
 
Turning Point
Georgia Gwinnett College didn't waste much time getting on the scoreboard in the second half, after hitting two goal posts in the first half and dominating the period by a 10-0 shot margin. A foul inside the 18-yard box resulted in a penalty kick opportunity in the 47th minute. Sophomore Gianmaria Fiore converted the scoring opportunity for what proved to be the game-winning goal.


 
Goals
47' – Gianmaria Fiore, GGC (penalty kick)
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies outshot Lincoln by a 16-3 margin, including a 10-0 edge during the first half
• GGC hit the opposing goal post twice in the first half
• The team recorded all eight corner kicks in the 90 minutes of action

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 11-3-3 on the season, while Lincoln ends the 2019 season at 9-7-1
• Georgia Gwinnett College is the top seed in the four-team postseason event; Lincoln was the No. 4 seed in the tournament
• The Grizzlies are ranked No. 20 in the final regular season NAIA Top 25 poll
• Friday's semifinal match marked the first meeting between the two programs
• Georgia Gwinnett is the defending A.I.I. tournament champion

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College plays in the 2019 Association of Independent Institutions championship match on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. from the Grizzly Soccer Complex.