Four different players found the back of the net as the Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team picked up an efficient 4-0 victory against NCAA Division II Shaw University (North Carolina) on Saturday evening in a neutral site match at the OrthoCarolina Sportsplex in Pineville, North Carolina.
The Grizzlies (4-6-6) earned their first victory away from Lawrenceville after five losses and four draws.
GGC scored three first-half goals and broke the match open by tallying two goals in the last three minutes of the opening period.
Freshman
Kendra Davis gave the team an early 1-0 lead in the seventh minute with her first goal of the season.
Junior
Maria Rivera started GGC's strong close to the first half by converting a crossing pass from sophomore
Damaris Gaines for a goal in the 42nd minute. This was Rivera's third goal of the season.
Then, with 22 second remaining in the period, freshman
Saga Andersson was in the right spot at the right time to score after receiving a crossing pass by junior
Victoria Watson.
Watson later scored an unassisted goal in the 81st minute for her third goal this season.
GGC scored on four of its five shots on goal while outshooting Shaw (3-8-3) by a 12-7 margin.
Junior goalkeeper
Matilda Waldt made two saves during the first half and sophomore
Matilda Johansson stopped all four of the Bears' shots on goal in the second half to preserve the shutout and team's first victory since October 11, a 3-0 home victory against Point University (Georgia).
Coach's Corner
"It is fun to play good soccer and it was nice to see us play very well tonight. It has been a while since we have played this well against an opponent who has had some close losses. Scoring goals just before the half gave us so much momentum. We were able to close out the match and finish our chances," said Head Coach
Dr. Mike Giuliano.
The Grizzlies scored two goals in the final three minutes of the first half to grab a 3-0 halftime advantage. With GGC enjoying a 1-0 early lead, junior
Maria Rivera found the back of the net in the 42nd minute. Then, freshman
Saga Andersson scored with 22 seconds remaining in the first half to give the team a 3-0 halftime edge.
7' –
Kendra Davis, GGC (
Miranda Robinson)
42' –
Maria Rivera, GGC (
Damaris Gaines)
45' –
Saga Andersson, GGC (
Victoria Watson)
81' –
Victoria Watson, GGC (unassisted)
- The Grizzlies outshot Shaw by a 12-7 margin and scored on four of its five shots on goal
- Junior goalkeeper Matilda Waldt and sophomore goalkeeper Matilda Johansson combined for the shutout by stopping all six opposing shots on goal
- GGC attempted four corner kicks
- GGC improves to 4-6-6 this fall, while Shaw falls to 3-8-3
- Both schools are members of independent conferences, with the Grizzlies competing in the NAIA and Shaw at the NCAA Division II level
- Saturday's match marked the first meeting between the two colleges
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled conclude the regular season with a match at Middle Georgia State University on Sunday, October 30, from Cochran, Georgia, starting at 1 p.m.
