The No. 24-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College men's soccer team dropped the opening match of the Continental Athletic Conference Classic, losing 1-0 to Washington Adventist University (Maryland) in a rain-soaked contest Wednesday evening at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.
The match-winning goal came on Riku Kawano's volley shot into the top right corner of the GGC goal from 15 yards in the 35th minute. The shot came after a Grizzly defender headed the ball in a clearing attempt following a crossing pass by the Shock.
It was the only shot that Washington Adventist (8-4-1) would manage to put on goal in the first half.
The goal was Kawano's third of the season.
GGC (5-4-3) threatened to find a tying tally on several occasions during the second half. Senior
Emanuele Sordi registered a match-high five shot attempts. His header in the 88th minute was saved by Shock goalkeeper Gregorio Capponi.
Sophomore
Mawia Haroun attempted two shots while seniors
Diego Milessi and
Odin Solheim each had one shot in Wednesday's match.
Four of the Grizzlies' seven corner kicks came in the second half, but Washington Adventist's defense and Capponi stood tall to secure the victory.
Washington Adventist scored on its lone shot on goal in the first half as Riku Kawano volleyed a shot off a header clearance into the upper right corner of the GGC goal in the 35th minute. The Shock had only three shots in the half.
35' – Riku Kawano, WAU (unassisted)
- The Grizzlies registered nine shots
- GGC recorded seven corner kicks across the 90 minutes of action
- Senior Emanuele Sordi had a match-high five shot attempts
- Seventeen different Grizzlies saw playing time on Wednesday
- GGC is now 5-4-3 in 2023; Washington Adventist improves to 8-4-1 on the season
- The Grizzlies were ranked No. 24 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll, announced on Wednesday, October 11
- GGC leads the series by a 2-1 margin
- The team is 1-2 this season against CAC opponents
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 12 Florida National University to conclude the CAC Classic on Friday, October 13, from the Grizzly Soccer Complex, starting at 7 p.m.
