Senior Ola Orelesi scored a match-tying goal in the 79th minute following a free kick as the Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw against No. 16 SCAD Savannah (Georgia) on Friday morning at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

The Grizzlies (4-1-1) were looking at another defeat as they trailed their second straight NAIA Top 25 opponent after allowing an unassisted goal in the 53rd minute. The team lost 1-0 at No. 6 Life University (Georgia) on Tuesday.

Unlike that Life match, GGC was able to net an equalizing goal in the late stages of the highly competitive contest. Following a SCAD Savannah foul, junior Grace Clark delivered a crossing pass from the right side into the opposing 18-yard box. Orelesi used her right foot to blast the ball from midair into the back of the net for the 1-1 tie in the 79th minute.

The hosts almost got a second tally in the closing minutes of regulation when a shot by junior Kendra Davis struck the crossbar in the 86th minute.

SCAD Savannah (3-1-1) took a 1-0 lead after Abigail Siddall scored a transition goal in the early moments of the second half.

The visitors outshot the Grizzlies by a 17-8 margin, but five of GGC shots were on goal. Seven different players registered a shot attempt. Junior Natalie Maguire led the charge with two shots.

Junior goalkeeper Ayano Kurosawa made a career-high 10 saves.


  "We needed a result against a Top 20 team. We managed to do that today in a game where we didn't play that well. We battled until the end last time out against Life and given how the game was going, I'm pleased with the 1-1 draw," said Head Coach Dr. Mike Giuliano.
  Trailing 1-0 in its second straight matchup against a nationally ranked contest, the Grizzlies were able to find the equalizer following a free kick in the 79th minute. Junior Grace Clark delivered a crossing pass to senior Ola Orelesi, who blasted the ball from the six-yard box into the back of the net.
  53' – Abigail Siddall, SCAD Savannah (unassisted)
79' – Ola Orelesi, GGC (Grace Clark)
 

• SCAD Savannah held a 17-8 shot advantage on Friday
• The Grizzlies attempted five corner kicks across the 90 minutes of action
• Junior goalkeeper Ayano Kurosawa recorded 10 saves
• Seven different GGC players registered a shot attempt

• GGC stands 4-1-1 in 2024; SCAD Savannah is 3-1-1 on the season
• The Grizzlies received votes in the first NAIA Top 25 poll of the 2024 regular season; SCAD Savannah stood No. 16 in the same poll
• Friday's draw is the first in the nine meetings between the two programs
• The team is 2-0-1 at the Grizzly Soccer Complex this fall

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host the University of Mobile (Alabama) on Thursday, September 12, at the Grizzly Soccer Complex, starting at 3 p.m.