Hat tricks by senior Kyara Armenta and sophomore Kendra Davis helped spark the No. 2-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team to a commanding 13-0 semifinal triumph against No. 3 seed Fisher College (Massachusetts) in Thursday afternoon's semifinal match of the 2023 Continental Athletic Conference Championship Tournament at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

GGC advances to face top seed Bellevue University (Nebraska) in the championship match on Saturday, November 11, starting at 4 p.m. Bellevue defeated No. 4 seed Talladega College (Alabama) 3-1 in the other semifinal contest.

The Grizzlies' 13 goals are the second most scored in a match in program history. The team outshot Fisher by a 39-2 margin.

Armenta netted her three goals in the first half, while Davis found the back of the net three times during the second half.

Armenta opened the scoring with a goal in the second minute of the match. Her other goals in the 33rd and 37th minutes were bookends for a stretch in which the Grizzlies scored three goals in a four-minute span. This was her second hat trick this season and moved her into a second-place tie in the program's record book with 34 career goals. Armenta set a record by playing in her 92nd match appearance on Thursday.

"We went out today with the right mindset and had a strong start by putting the ball into the back of the net," said Armenta. "The individual statistics have been good this season. My good friend Joy (Mertzig) holds the goal record so it is crazy to think that I'm close to her (record)."

Davis opened the second half scoring with a goal in the 47th minute to give GGC a 7-0 lead. She later added goals in the 64th minute and 81st minute to increase her season total to five goals.
The tournament hosts scored seven goals in the second half.

Freshman Cecilie Povlsen found the back of the net in the 28th minute and then contributed two assists later in the first half. Senior Pernilla Westergren also scored a goal and provided two assists for the team.

Junior Aurora Miglio scored twice in the opening half and added an assist on Davis' second goal. Sophomore Saga Andersson rounded out the multiple-goal scorers.

The Grizzlies captured conference tournament titles from 2017-21.
  "We played hard and well today to get to the final match. We played GGC-level soccer the whole match. Once we got to 3-0 you felt like the game was under control. This was the dream start (to the tournament) by getting the victory while also getting a lot of players into the match," said Head Coach Dr. Mike Giuliano.
  The Grizzlies scored three goals in a four-minute span in the later moments of the first half to build a 6-0 halftime advantage. Senior Kyara Armenta netted a hat trick during that half with goals in the second, 33rd and 37th minutes.
  2' – Kyara Armenta, GGC (Aurora Miglio)
6' – Aurora Miglio, GGC (Cecilie Povlsen)
28' – Cecilie Povlsen, GGC (Pernilla Westergren)
33' – Kyara Armenta, GGC (Cecilie Povlsen)
35' – Aurora Miglio, GGC (unassisted)
37' – Kyara Armenta, GGC (Grace Clark)
47' – Kendra Davis, GGC (unassisted)
61' – Saga Andersson, GGC (Caroline Andersen)
64' – Kendra Davis, GGC (Aurora Miglio)
65' – Caroline Andersen, GGC (Poppy Mortimer)
81' – Kendra Davis, GGC (Kayla Maguire)
82' – Saga Andersson, GGC (Poppy Mortimer, Pernilla Westergren)
86' – Pernilla Westergren, GGC (unassisted)
 

• The Grizzlies outshot Fisher by a 39-2 margin
• GGC recorded nine corner kicks
• Senior Kyara Armenta moved into first place in program history with 92 career matches played and is tied for second place with 34 career goals
• Junior Aurora Miglio attempted a match-high nine shots

• GGC improves to 5-12-1 on the season; Fisher ends the 2023 season with a 6-9-2 record
• The Grizzlies stood as the No. 2 seed in the CAC Soccer Championship; Fisher was the No. 3 seed
• Thursday's semifinal match marked the first meeting between the two colleges
• GGC is 12-0-2 all-time in home postseason matches under Head Coach Dr. Mike Giuliano

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play top seed Bellevue University (Nebraska) in the championship match of the 2023 Continental Athletic Conference Soccer Championship tournament on Saturday, November 11, starting at 4 p.m.