A penalty-kick goal in the second half was the narrow margin of victory as No. 21-ranked Truett-McConnell University (Georgia) edged No. 22 Georgia Gwinnett College 1-0 in a hard-fought early-season NAIA Top 25 women's soccer battle Tuesday night at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

In the 64th minute, Truett-McConnell senior Annabel Trauschke pushed a penalty kick past GGC sophomore goalkeeper Elle Sarter for the lone score in the 90-minute match.

The Grizzlies (1-1-0) opened their 2025 home campaign in front of a packed house, with the crowd creating an electric atmosphere and cheering each play by the hosts. The first 100 students in attendance received a free t-shirt to celebrate White Out Night.

GGC applied consistent offensive pressure, outshooting Truett McConnell by an 11-5 margin and holding a 7-1 edge in corner kicks. The team nearly broke through in the 51st minute when a shot hit by freshman Hannah Lorenz struck the opposing crossbar.

That play was among several that kept the Bears' defense alert.

Freshman Camila Madriz Figueroa and senior Natalie Maguire also had scoring opportunities in the closing minutes. Madriz Figueroa had a match-high four shot attempts.

Sarter, the Continental Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, made two saves in the contest.


 
Coach's Corner
"Offensively, we looked like a team that has a lot of new pieces. Camila (Madriz Figueroa) was a force for us and we had players make progress from last Saturday's season opener. I thought we were eventually going to score tonight. Nothing can get the taste of a hard-found loss out of your mouth better than playing the defending national champs (No. 1-ranked SCAD-Savannah) and having a positive result," said Head Coach Dr. Mike Giuliano.
 
Turning Point
Truett-McConnell's Annabel Trauschke converted a penalty kick for the contest's lone goal in the 64th minute. GGC had several scoring opportunities prior to and following that goal, but was unable to get the match-tying tally.
 
Goals
64' – Annabel Trauschke, TMU (Penalty kick)
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies outshot Truett-McConnell by a 11-5 margin
• GGC held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks
• Truett-McConnell was called offside four times; the Grizzlies twice
• Freshman Camila Madriz Figueroa attempted a match-high four shots in Tuesday's match

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett drops to 1-1-0 on the season; Truett-McConnell opened the 2025 campaign
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 22 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll; Truett-McConnell stood No. 21 in the same poll
• Tuesday's win by the Bears evened the series at 4-4-1
• Georgia Gwinnett College Office of Athletics hosted White Out Night, with the first 100 GGC students in attendance receiving a free t-shirt

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to top-ranked and defending national champion SCAD Savannah (Georgia) on Saturday, August 30, from Hardeeville, South Carolina, starting at 4 p.m.