The Georgia Gwinnett College men's soccer team battled back in the closing minutes for a dramatic 1-1 draw against No. 12 Florida National University in a highly competitive match Friday night match in the final match of the Continental Athletic Conference Classic at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

The Grizzlies (5-3-4), ranked No. 24 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll, overcame a one-goal deficit and played the last 28:49 down one player on the pitch.

GGC's tying goal came as senior Diego Milessi volleyed the ball to himself with his back facing the goal before twisting and striking a shot that found the back of the net in the 87th minute – the team's first goal of two CAC Classic matches. It was Milessi's third goal of the season.

Florida National (8-1-4) struck first in the 56th minute when Ricardo Delwing successfully converted a penalty kick.

The Grizzlies dominated the visiting Conquistadors across the first 25 minutes of the match. Senior Emanuele Sordi struck the right post with a header in the 13th minute. A shot by senior Aleksandar Rajkovic in the 21st minute was stopped by a Florida National defender, preventing another opportunity to grab an early advantage.

FNU countered a GGC corner kick one minute later to generate its first shot of the match, only to have the host's freshman defender Chris Stafford stopping a shot by Florida National's Fracisco Crimi.

Overall, the Grizzlies outshot Florida National by a 9-7 margin and took all seven of their corner kicks during the first half. Rajkovic tallied a match-high three shots.


  "This was a great battle and I love these kids and the effort that they put in tonight. We very easily could've folded, but instead showed what we have inside us. This is what we're capable of doing. It was great to have one of the breaks go our way tonight," said Head Coach Steve DeCou.
  The Grizzlies dug down deep to salvage a draw against No. 12 Florida National, despite playing nearly the last 30 minutes of the match with 10 players. Senior Diego Milessi scored the equalizer in the 87th minute when he volleyed the ball to himself with his back facing the goal. The shot floated over the Florida National goalkeeper and bounced into the open net.
  56' – Ricardo Delwing, FNU (unassisted)
87' – Diego Milessi, GGC (Odin Solheim)
 

• The Grizzlies outshot Florida National by a 9-7 margin
• GGC recorded all seven of its corner kicks during the first half
• Senior Aleksandar Rajkovic registered a match-high three shot attempts on Friday
• Seven different GGC players tallied a shot in the contest

• GGC is now 5-4-4 on the season; Florida National is 8-1-4 in 2023
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 24 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll; Florida National stood No. 12 in the same poll
• The series is now even with one victory apiece and one draw
• GGC is 1-2-1 this season against CAC opponents

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 5 Lindsey Wilson College (Kentucky) on Saturday, October 21, at the Grizzly Soccer Complex, starting at 1 p.m.