A pair of second half goals rallied the Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory at Montreat College (North Carolina) on Saturday afternoon in Black Mountain, North Carolina, during the team's first road match of the season.

Freshman Lore Van Onsem and senior Victoria Watson each found the back of the net in the final 30 minutes of the contest.

Van Onsem scored on a one-on-one scoring chance in the 63rd minute after senior Pernilla Westergren flicked the ball over Montreat's defensive line.

Later, Watson tallied the match-winner in the 78th minute with her first goal of the season. It came after passes from freshmen Riko Yasuzawa and Kayla Maguire.

Montreat (0-1-0) netted the first goal of the match as Olivia Ostwalt scored in the 11th minute. The hosts registered three shots in the final five minutes – all stopped by GGC junior goalkeeper Matilda Johansson. Two shots came from JJ Aalbue over the course of 49 seconds within the 87th minute. Charlotte Craver had a shot stopped one minute later.

Johansson recorded three of her six saves in the match during that late offensive sequence.

This was the first come-from-behind victory for the Grizzlies (2-0-0) since a 4-2 road triumph on March 6, 2021, against Truett-McConnell University (Georgia).

The visitors held a commanding 16-9 shot advantage, led by freshman Caroline Andersen, Van Onsem, Watson, and Yasuzawa each attempting three shots.
  "We came into the season wanting to be a more mentally strong team. We did something today that we were unable to do all of last year: coming back from behind to win a game. It shows the heart and the mind is there on this team. Once we got the first goal, everybody could feel a second goal was coming," said Head Coach Dr. Mike Giuliano.
  The Grizzlies dug down deep on a hot and humid Saturday afternoon to pick up a victory in their road opener. GGC trailed 1-0 after allowing an early goal, but put two shots into the back of the net over the final 30 minutes of the match. Freshman Lore Van Onsem buried a 1-on-1 chance to tie the match in the 63rd minute. Then, freshmen Riko Yasuzawa and Kayla Maguire linked with senior Victoria Watson to account for the game-winning goal in the 78th minute.
  11' – Olivia Ostwalt, MC (unassisted)
63' – Lore Van Onsem, GGC (Pernilla Westergren, Kayla Maguire)
78' – Victoria Watson, GGC (Riko Yasuzawa, Kayla Maguire)
 

• The Grizzlies outshot Montreat by a 16-9 margin, but the Cavaliers registered seven shots on goals compared to six for GGC
• GGC attempted seven corner kicks across the 90-minute match
• Junior goalkeeper Matilda Johansson made four of her six saves during the second half, with three coming in the final five minutes
• Four different Grizzlies had three shots to lead the team

• GGC improves to 2-0-0 in 2023; Montreat opened the season on Saturday
• The Grizzlies received votes in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll
• GGC leads the series with a 4-0-1 record
• Georgia Gwinnett College is 6-5-1 all-time in road openers

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to the SCAD Coca-Cola Classic to face No. 3-ranked Keiser University (Florida) on Saturday, September 2, at Savannah, Georgia, starting at 3:30 p.m.