The Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team concluded the regular season with a 5-0 road loss to Martin Methodist College (Tenn.) in a matchup of nationally ranked teams Tuesday evening.

Natsuna Sugishita scored two goals while Yuki Watari had a goal and an assist to lead the No. 6 RedHawks.

GGC, ranked No. 12, lost for the first time in six matches to end the regular season with a 12-5-1 record. The five goals were a season high for an opponent.

Martin Methodist (14-3-1) found the back of the net twice in the first 11 minutes of the match. Watari scored in the sixth minute and the first of Sugishita's two goals came in the 11th minute. The hosts took a 3-0 halftime lead in the 41st minute on a goal by Adisa Amang.

Martin Methodist added two goals in the second half.

The Grizzlies played six matches against nationally ranked opponents, picking up victories against No. 5 Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) and No. 15 University of Mobile (Ala.).

GGC will now prepare to be the top seed for the Association of Independent Institutions soccer championship tournament, taking place Nov. 15-16 at the Grizzly Soccer Complex in Lawrenceville, Ga.
 
Turning Point
Martin Methodist scored twice in the opening 11 minutes to grab a quick 2-0 lead. The hosts added goals in the 41st, 73rd and 89th minutes as the Grizzlies allowed a season high five goals in the match.
 
Goals
6' – Yuki Watari, MMC (Adisa Amang)
11' – Natsuna Sugishita, MMC (unassisted)
41' – Adisa Amang, MMC (Ashlyn Wiggins)
73' – Natsuna Sugishita, MCC (unassisted)
89' – Lily Fisk, MMC (Yuki Watari)
 
Inside The Numbers

• Martin Methodist outshot GGC by a 23-3 margin, including a 11-0 edge in shots on goal
• The RedHawks recorded 10 corner kicks
• The teams combined for 14 fouls in the 90 minutes of action
• The Grizzlies entered with five consecutive shutouts

News & Notes

• GGC drops to 12-5-1 on the season, while Martin Methodist improves to 14-3-1 this fall
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 12 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll; Martin Methodist stood No. 6 in the same poll
• Martin Methodist has won all three meetings in the series
• GGC has a 5-3-1 record in road matches this fall

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College opens play in the 2019 Association of Independent Institutions soccer championship tournament with a semifinal match on Friday, Nov. 15. The Grizzlies are the top seed and will face No. 4 seed Washington Adventist University (Md.) at 11 a.m. from the Grizzly Soccer Complex.