The Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team turned two corner kicks into second-half goals in a 2-0 victory against Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio) on Saturday afternoon to conclude a busy weekend of action at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.

Sophomore Victoria Watson found the back of the net in the 68th minute following a corner kick by sophomore Maria Rivera. Then, freshman Narissa Gaither converted her own corner kick for her first collegiate goal to extend the lead to 2-0 in the 74th minute.

Those were the only corner kicks for the Grizzlies (3-2) in the second half.

GGC broke open the scoreless match after a shot from sophomore Kyara Armenta hit Mount Vernon Nazarene's goal post. That set up the corner kick that resulted in Watson's goal.

The team maintained intense offense pressure throughout the match, with 11 of its 19 shots being on goal. Junior Joy Mertzig hit the right post with a shot from the top of the 18-yard box in the 64th minute – one of a match-high six shots. Watson and Armenta each had three shots while juniors Maya Alibudbud and Addie Adame rounded out the balanced offensive performance with two shot attempts apiece.

Meanwhile, freshman goalkeeper Matilda Johansson made seven saves during the second half, including a diving stop in the 58th minute to deflect a shot from Ashley Townsend off the left post and keep the match scoreless.

All three of GGC's victories this season have come through shutouts.
  "We have been working hard on set pieces. Scoring off corner kicks is encouraging. Matilda played the best game of her career and made some difficult saves during the second half to keep the match scoreless before we managed to score," said Head Coach Dr. Mike Giuliano.
  GGC capitalized on corner kicks to score both goals. Sophomore Victoria Watson was in the right spot inside the six-yard box to convert a corner kick from sophomore Maria Rivera to give GGC a 1-0 lead in the 68th minute. Then, freshman Narissa Gaither scored off her own corner kick in the 74th minute. She directed a left corner kick into the upper right corner of the goal for a tally.
  68' – Victoria Watson, GGC (Maria Rivera)
74' – Narissa Gaither, GGC (unassisted)
 

• The Grizzlies outshot Mount Vernon Nazarene by a 19-11 margin
• Seven of GGC's 10 goals this season have come in the second half
• Freshman goalkeeper Matilda Johansson made seven saves to record the team's third shutout of the season – all GGC victories
• The team had five corner kicks, but scored on both of its corner kicks in the second half

• GGC improves to 3-2 in 2021, while Mount Vernon Nazarene drops to 2-2 on the season
• The Grizzlies received votes in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll
• Saturday's meeting marked the first contest between the two schools
• GGC has a 11-5-1 record over its last 15 matches

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to No. 23-ranked Reinhardt University (Georgia) on Wednesday, September 8, at 7 p.m. from Waleska, Georgia.