The No. 18-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team couldn't overcome allowing three first-half goals, two in rapid-fire fashion, in losing a 3-2 Senior Match against No. 16 Campbellsville University (Kentucky) at the Grizzly Soccer Complex – in a NAIA top-20 matchup that lived up to its pre-match billing.
GGC (7-3-1), playing its fifth-ranked opponent of the season, lost for the first time in the past four matches.
Campbellsville (10-0-0) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes with goals that were scored 39 seconds apart. Lina Berrah provided passes to set up goals by Marta Prieto in the 10th minute and Oddny Helgadottir during the 11th minute.
The Grizzlies regained momentum in the match when senior
Kendra Davis headed in a crossing pass from junior
Grace Clark in the 38th minute. Davis' sixth goal of the season brought the hosts within a goal, at 2-1.
However, the Tigers converted a GGC turnover in the 18-yard box into a goal – and a two-goal lead – just before halftime as Momo Chogyoji netted an unassisted goal.
The hosts controlled the second half, registering six shots during the final 45 minutes. Sophomore
Riko Yasuzawa drilled the ball into the back of the net off a right crossing pass from Davis in the 52nd minute. That once again closed the Grizzlies' deficit to a one-goal margin, at 3-2.
Before Yasuzawa's goal, Davis had a scoring opportunity in a one-on-one situation with Campbellsville goalkeeper Milly Shakespeare. Her shot went wide right of the opposing goal.
Other GGC scoring chances had two shots by junior
Natalie Maguire being stopped by Shakespeare in the 22nd minute and Yasuzawa struck the crossbar on a free kick during the 19th minute. Then a shot on goal by senior
Ola Orelesi failed to connect in the 58th minute and freshman
Lim Soo Yeon had a shot stopped by Shakespeare during the 65th minute.
Campbellsville held a slight 15-13 shot advantage for the match, including a 9-7 edge in shots on goal. Davis and Yasuzawa each had three shot attempts to lead the team. Eight different Grizzlies registered a shot on Saturday.
Prior to the contest the program honored its eight senior student-athletes, including
Thilde Engholm,
Bre Harvey,
Sanaa Listenbee,
Matilda Johansson,
Aurora Miglio,
Pernilla Westergren, Davis, and Orelesi.
Coach's Corner
"(Campbellsville) just outworked us early in the match. Once we decided to match their work effort, it was a 50/50 game. The difference was the first 20 minutes of the match. We had plenty of good scoring chances at the end. This was our fifth ranked opponent. We've won one and tied one match against that top competition. I'm disappointed to not come away with a positive result tonight," said Head Coach
Dr. Mike Giuliano.
Turning Point
The Grizzlies were applying pressure during the second half, scoring a goal off a one-timer from sophomore
Riko Yasuzawa in the 52nd minute. GGC threatened over the last 30 minutes of the match, but Campbellsville's defense and goalkeeper Milly Shakespeare stood tall to preserve the 3-2 road victory.
Goals
10' – Marta Prieto, CU (Lina Berrah)
11' – Oddny Helgadottir, CU (Lina Berrah)
38' –
Kendra Davis, GGC (
Grace Clark)
43' – Momo Chogyoji, CU (Unassisted)
52' –
Riko Yasuzawa, GGC (
Kendra Davis)
Inside The Numbers
- Campbellsville outshot GGC by a slim 15-13 margin, including a 9-7 edge in shots on goal
- The Grizzlies attempted three corner kicks across the 90 minutes of action
- Eight different GGC players registered a shot, led by senior Kendra Davis and sophomore Riko Yasuzawa with each having three shot attempts
- The Tigers were whistled for offsides on four occasions compared to the Grizzlies' two offsides calls
News & Notes
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to top-ranked University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky) on Monday, October 7, at Williamsburg, Kentucky, starting at 7 p.m.
