The No. 23-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College men's soccer team scored multiple goals for the fifth straight match to remain unbeaten on the young season with a 2-1 victory against LSU Shreveport on Monday afternoon to conclude the Grizzly Labor Day Classic at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

GGC (4-0-1) started fast as junior Aleksandar Rajkovic drilled a shot from the penalty spot inside the right post for a 1-0 lead five minutes into the match. Junior Augustin Lepoutre sent in a ball to the attacking zone from the right sideline. From there, senior Karim Tmimi found Rajkovic all alone in front of the opposing goal. Rajkovic has scored a goal in three consecutive matches.

The host's veteran defensive unit limited the Pilots (2-2-1) to just two shots during the first half.

The Grizzlies' lead grew to 2-0 in the 65th minute when Rajkovic scored off a left corner kick from junior Khaled Qasum. The ball hit off a LSU Shreveport defender trying to clear the ball before finding the back of the net inside the right post.

The Pilots got on the scoreboard in the 73rd minute as Bernardo Pacheco scored on a shot inside the left goalpost from 25 yards in front of the GGC net.

Georgia Gwinnett College sophomore goalkeeper Ron Boaz stopped the visitor's only shot in the final 17 minutes of action. He made three saves Monday to pick up his third victory of the season.

Seven different Grizzlies attempted a shot in the match, led by junior Emanuele Sordi with eight shots. Tmimi added three shots while sophomore Jason Strambu and Rajkovic each had two shots in the victory.


  "The question after the first few matches (this season) has been how we were going to handle adversity. We gave up the goal, but were able to close out the game strong. I'm especially proud of how the guys finished off the victory," said Head Coach Steve DeCou.
                Junior Aleksandar Rajkovic has provided the Grizzlies with an early offensive spark from the midfield. The transfer found the back of the net in the fifth minute and played a key role in the team's second goal in the victory. With LSU Shreveport playing close attention to Rajkovic's whereabouts on a corner kick, the ball deflected off a Pilot player for an own goal midway through the second half. Rajkovic has scored a goal for GGC in three consecutive matches.
  5' – Aleksandar Rajkovic, GGC (Karim Tmimi, Augustin Lepoutre)
65' – Aleksandar Rajkovic, GGC (Khaled Qasum)
73' – Bernardo Pacheco, LSUS (unassisted)
 

• GGC outshot LSU Shreveport by a 18-6 margin, with 11 shots being on goal
• Junior Aleksandar Rajkovic has scored a goal in three consecutive matches
• The Grizzlies attempted eight corner kicks in the match
• Sophomore goalkeeper Ron Boaz made three saves to pick up his third win

• GGC improves to 4-0-1 on the season, while LSU Shreveport drops to 2-2-1 this fall
• Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 23 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll; LSU Shreveport received votes in the same poll
• The series is tied 1-1 with both teams winning on their home pitch in each of the last two seasons
• GGC won both matches of the Grizzly Labor Day Classic, outscoring the opposition 8-1

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Southeastern University (Florida) on Saturday, September 10, from the Grizzly Soccer Complex, starting at 1 p.m.