The NAIA's No. 24-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team got back to its winning ways with a resounding 3-1 victory at NCAA Division III Oglethorpe University (Georgia) on Wednesday evening in Brookhaven, Georgia.

GGC (5-2-1) outshot Oglethorpe by a 24-1 margin, with 17 shots coming during a productive first half when all the visitors' goals were scored. That came after Oglethorpe (3-3-1) took an early lead in the 15th minute.

Sophomore Kayla Maguire scored a goal and provided an assist on the Grizzlies' first two goals of the first 45 minutes. It was her sister, junior Natalie Maguire, who squared the match at 1-1 in the 18th minute after burying a shot into the opposing net from 15 yards. The goal came after quick passes from classmate Samara Dullabh and Kayla Maguire.

A few minutes later, the younger Maguire snuck behind the Stormy Petrels' defense after senior Pernilla Westergren played a long ball. Maguire flicked the ball over the goalkeeper to give GGC a 2-1 lead at the 23-minute mark.

Then, senior Aurora Miglio bent a right-footed shot into the upper left corner of the Oglethorpe goal for her team-leading seventh goal of the season – extending the Grizzlies' advantage to 3-1 in the 31st minute.

In the second half, sophomore Rikke Steenhold struck the crossbar following a free kick in the 69th minute and the team had several other solid scoring opportunities that were saved by the opposing goalkeeper.

Miglio paced GGC with seven shot attempts, while Natalie Maguire added four shots.
 
Coach's Corner
"We accomplished our three goals for this match. A lot of the things we have been working on in practice were executed in game situations. As a coach, that's very satisfying," said Head Coach Dr. Mike Giuliano.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies had a quick response after Oglethorpe had taken a 1-0 advantage in the 15th minute. They found the back of the net twice within the next eight minutes. First, junior Natalie Maguire buried a shot from 15 yards at the 18-minute mark. Then, sophomore Kayla Maguire scored on a beautiful one-touch goal in the 23rd minute, after receiving a long pass from senior Pernilla Westergren. That turned the scoreboard in GGC's favor by a 2-1 score.
 
Goals
15' – Ella Price, OU (Lauryn Oliver and Harlow Cregar)
18' – Natalie Maguire, GGC (Samara Dullabh and Kayla Maguire)
23' – Kayla Maguire, GGC (Pernilla Westergren)
31' – Aurora Miglio, GGC (Unassisted)
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies outshot Oglethorpe by a 24-1 margin, with 17 shots coming during a productive first half
• Sophomore Kayla Maguire tallied three points in Wednesday's match by scoring a goal and assisting on another tally
• Senior Aurora Miglio scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season
• Twenty-three GGC players appeared in the contest

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 5-2-1 on the season; Oglethorpe drops to 3-3-1 this fall
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 24 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Wednesday's match marked the first meeting between the two Atlanta area colleges
• GGC has won three of its four road matches this fall

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play at No. 8 Cumberland University (Tennessee) on Saturday, September 21, in Lebanon, Tennessee, starting at 4 p.m.