The Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team started fast but visiting Bethel University (Tennessee) netted three unanswered goals for a 3-1 victory triumph Saturday afternoon against the Grizzlies on Senior Day at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

Senior Pernilla Westergren floated a left corner kick into the back of the net to give GGC a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute. The midfielder netted her second goal of the season and third of career.

Bethel (10-2-1; receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll) quickly answered with a goal by Audrey LaRue in the 19th minute. An unassisted tally from Kalina Stanisic gave the Wildcats a 2-1 lead in the 26th minute.

The visitors added an insurance goal in the 53rd minute when Kelly Nunes headed in a corner kick from Carla Cebollada for the decisive 3-1 advantage.

Bethel held an 11-8 shot edge in the match, including an 8-4 margin in shots on goal. Both teams recorded seven corner kicks across the 90 minutes of action. Freshman Riko Yasuzawa led the Grizzlies with three shot attempts.

Prior to the match the program honored seniors Kyara Armenta, D'arne Boato, Camerin Dillingham, Victoria Watson and Westergren.
 
Bethel answered the Grizzlies early first-half goal with three straight goals, including a pair in the first half. Eight of the Wildcats' 11 shots were on goal, while GGC was held to just eight total shot attempts across the 90 minutes of action.
 
13' – Pernilla Westergren, GGC (unassisted)
19' – Audrey LaRue, BU (unassisted)
26' – Kalina Stanisic, BU (unassisted)
53' – Kelly Nunes, BU (Carla Cebollada)
 

• Bethel outshot the Grizzlies by an 11-8 margin, including an 8-4 edge in shots on goal
• Both teams recorded seven corner kicks
• Senior Pernilla Westergren scored her second goal of the season and third of her career
• Freshman Riko Yasuzawa attempted a match-high three shots on Saturday

• GGC completed the regular season with a 4-12-1 record; Bethel improves to 10-2-1 in 2023
• Bethel received votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Saturday's win by the Wildcats evens the series at two wins apiece, with each team winning twice on the opposing team's home pitch
• Senior Kyara Armenta tied a GGC program career record with 91 matches played

Georgia Gwinnett College will host the 2023 Continental Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championship with a semifinal match on Thursday, November 9, at the Grizzly Soccer Complex. News about qualifying teams, tournament seeding and schedule of matches will be announced next week.