Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer is once again atop the Continental Athletic Conference after defeating top-seeded Bellevue University (Nebraska) by a 2-1 score in a thrilling championship match Saturday afternoon at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.
The Grizzlies, the No. 2 seed, scored twice in the final 15 minutes of the first half to propel the program to its sixth conference tournament championship – and another berth in the NAIA national tournament.
Senior
Kyara Armenta drilled a shot from the six-yard box in the 31st minute to open the scoring. Sophomore
Kendra Davis set up the scoring opportunity with a crossing pass from the right side after senior
Pernilla Westergren delivered a ball from the middle of the pitch.
The match's initial goal marked Armenta's 15th tally of the season and moved the forward into sole possession of second place in the career record book with 35 goals.
Later, freshman
Gabriela Rosas gave the Grizzlies a 2-0 advantage four minutes before halftime after receiving a left crossing pass from classmate
Caroline Andersen.
The tournament hosts attempted seven of their 11 shots during the first half.
Bellevue applied pressure throughout the second half and cut the deficit in half, 2-1, when Ximena Jauregui successfully converted a penalty kick in the 67th minute. Seven of the team's 11 shots over the course of the last 45 minutes.
The Bruins almost squared the match in the 74th minute when a shot by Emma Stock hit the crossbar. Six minutes later, a long distance shot from Jauregui was stopped by GGC junior goalkeeper
Matilda Johansson.
Armenta was named the CAC tournament's Most Outstanding Player while teammates
Aurora Miglio,
Ola Orelesi and Westergren earned all-tournament team honors.
Georgia Gwinnett College's 2023 league title joins the five straight championships from 2017-21.
The Grizzlies will learn their postseason destination when the NAIA national tournament bracket details are announced on Monday, November 13, at 1 p.m.
"The precision in which we were able to finish was a difference in today's game. Good things happen when we are able to get to the end line. We suddenly got there twice and it resulted in a 2-0 lead. Those were two clinical finishes by Kyara and Gabriela. Survive and advance are key elements at this time of the year," said Head Coach
Dr. Mike Giuliano.
The Grizzlies scored twice in the final 15 minutes of the first half to build a 2-0 advantage. Both tallies were scored off crossing passes near the end line. Freshman
Caroline Andersen found classmate
Gabriela Rosas for the second goal in the 41st minute.
31' –
Kyara Armenta, GGC (
Kendra Davis,
Pernilla Westergren)
41' –
Gabriela Rosas, GGC (
Caroline Andersen)
68' - Ximena Jauregui, BU (Penalty kick)
- Both teams recorded 11 shots across the 90 minutes of action
- Senior Kyara Armenta scored her 15th goal of the season
- Bellevue attempted six corner kicks compared to three corner kicks for the Grizzlies
- Seven different GGC players took a shot in the victory
- GGC improves to 6-12-1 this fall; Bellevue ends the season with a 12-3-1 record
- The Grizzlies stood as the No. 2 seed in the CAC Soccer Championship; Bellevue was the No. 1 seed
- GGC leads the series 3-1-1
- Saturday's match marked the third consecutive season that the Grizzlies and Bruins have met in the championship match
- Georgia Gwinnett College captured its sixth conference tournament title
As CAC champions, Georgia Gwinnett College will advance to the NAIA national tournament. Details will be announced during the NAIA Selection Show on Monday, November 13, at 1 p.m.
