The No. 20-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team scored seven goals in a match for the third time this season, defeating Continental Athletic Conference opponent Florida College 7-0 in Tuesday afternoon's regular-season finale at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.
The Grizzlies (11-6-1) will now prepare to host the 2024 CAC Championships on November 9-13.
The team closed out the regular season by getting multiple-goal performances from senior
Pernilla Westergren and junior
Cecilie Povlsen while playing their first home match in more than a month.
Scoring three times within a 10-minute stanza of the first half, GGC built a 3-0 halftime advantage. Westergren opened the scoring during the 23rd minute by finishing off a rebound from an initial shot by junior
Kendra Davis.
Freshman
Stella Van Der Sluis netted an unassisted goal in the 29th minute to give the hosts a 2-0 lead. Junior
Nicole Mares Rivera then found the back of the net for the first time this fall. She scored after receiving a right crossing pass from Povlsen at the 33rd-minute mark of the match.
Four goals were added throughout the second half. Sophomore
Riko Yasuzawa buried a free kick into the lower right corner of the goal from just outside the opposing 18-yard box. That gave GGC a 4-0 edge in the 67th minute.
Just 41 seconds later, Westergren's second tally of the match extended GGC's lead. The midfielder has scored four goals during her senior campaign.
Povlsen's two goals in the 77th and 83rd minutes rounded out the balanced scoring attack. She now has scored six goals for the season.
The Grizzlies held a commanding 26-2 advantage in shots, including a 15-2 edge in shots on Florida College's goal. Twelve different players registered a shot attempt and the team had a season-high 12 corner kicks in the victory.
Junior goalkeeper
Ayano Kurosawa picked up her ninth victory after stopping one shot during the first half. Freshman
Elle Sarter played a scoreless second half in front of the GGC goal and had a save to preserve the shutout.
Coach's Corner
"I was encouraged by how the second unit scored five of our seven goals tonight. We also closed out the regular season by scoring seven goals," said Head Coach
Dr. Mike Giuliano.
Turning Point
The Grizzlies had 23 different players appear in Tuesday's match, with the team's reserves tallying five of the seven goals across 90 minutes of action. GGC registered three goals within a 10-minute period during the back end of the first half.
Goals
23' –
Pernilla Westergren, GGC (
Kendra Davis)
29' –
Stella Van Der Sluis, GGC (Unassisted)
33' –
Nicole Mares Rivera, GGC (
Cecilie Povlsen)
67' –
Riko Yasuzawa, GGC (Unassisted)
68' –
Pernilla Westergren, GGC (Unassisted)
77' –
Cecilie Povlsen, GGC (
Pernilla Westergren)
83' –
Cecilie Povlsen, GGC (
Gabriela Rosas and
Stella Van Der Sluis)
Inside The Numbers
- The Grizzlies outshot Florida College by a 26-2 margin, including a 15-2 advantage in shots on goal
- GGC attempted a season-high 12 corner kicks on Tuesday
- Twelve different Grizzlies registered a shot across the 90 minutes of action
- Senior Pernilla Westergren scored twice and provided an assist
News & Notes
- GGC improves to 11-6-1 on the season; Florida College drops to 0-11-1 in 2024
- The Grizzlies were ranked No. 20 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
- Georgia Gwinnett College has won all three meetings with the Falcons in shutout fashion
- GGC and Florida College are members of the Continental Athletic Conference
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host the 2024 Continental Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championship, beginning on Saturday, November 9, at the Grizzly Soccer Complex. Tournament pairings and schedule of matches will be announced by CAC officials soon.
