Second-half goals by sophomore Kyara Armenta and junior Joy Mertzig lifted the Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory against Ottawa University (Arizona) in Wednesday night's 2021 fall season opener at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

This was a matchup of teams that received votes in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll.

Armenta scored GGC's first goal in the 56th minute from a passing combination by freshman Ashley Donselaar and junior Addie Adame. This marks the second consecutive season that Armenta has scored the first goal of GGC's season – with both tallies coming during the 2021 calendar year. She also found the back of the net in February during the 2020-21 season opener against University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky).

Quick-shifting passes by Donselaar and Adame moved the ball from the right side toward the middle of the pitch. That's when Adame found Armenta inside the 18-yard box. She proceeded to float a shot from 15 yards into the upper right corner of the goal to tally the first goal of the match.

Then in the 78th minute Mertzig converted a one-on-one opportunity against the Ottawa goalkeeper to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 advantage. Adame once again contributed on the goal, lofting a pass over the Ottawa defense to a rushing Mertzig down the left side of the field.

This was the 31st goal during Mertzig's career.

GGC controlled the pace of play for most of the match, outshooting the Spirit by a 12-4 margin, including a 7-3 edge during the second half. Six of GGC's shots were on goal.

Meanwhile, sophomore Matilda Waldt and freshman Matilda Johansson each played a half as goalkeepers. Waldt earned the start and Johansson had two saves and picked up the victory in goal.


  "This was a quality team performance against a very good opponent. After getting the first goal we (coaches) discussed our options for the rest of the game. We decided to keep pushing and going to (the opposing) goal," said Head Coach Dr. Mike Giuliano.
  The Grizzlies scored a key insurance goal to extend the lead to 2-0 in the 78th minute when junior Joy Mertzig received a pass from junior Addie Adame over Ottawa's defense to create a one-on-one situation with the opposing goalkeeper. Mertzig drilled the shot into the open net for her 31st career goal.
  56' – Kyara Armenta, GGC (Addie Adame, Ashley Donselaar)
78' – Joy Mertzig, GGC (Addie Adame)
 

• The Grizzlies outshot Ottawa by a 12-4 margin, with six shots being on goal
• Five different players recorded two shots for GGC
• Sophomore Kyara Armenta scored GGC's first goal for the second consecutive season

• GGC improves to 1-0 on the season, while Ottawa lost its season opener
• Georgia Gwinnett College and Ottawa received votes in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll
• Wednesday's contest marked the first meeting between the two teams
• The Grizzlies are 5-4 when opening the season at home
• Wednesday's match began the 10th season in GGC program history

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Truett-McConnell University (Georgia) on Wednesday, August 25, at 7 p.m. from the Grizzly Soccer Complex.