Georgia Gwinnett College Athletics

Grizzlies Win 2023 CAC Title

Georgia Gwinnett College women's soccer is once again atop the Continental Athletic Conference after defeating top-seeded Bellevue University (Nebraska) by a 2-1 score in a thrilling championship match Saturday afternoon at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

The Grizzlies, the No. 2 seed, scored twice in the final 15 minutes of the first half to propel the program to its sixth conference tournament championship – and another berth in the NAIA national tournament.

Senior Kyara Armenta drilled a shot from the six-yard box in the 31st minute to open the scoring. Sophomore Kendra Davis set up the scoring opportunity with a crossing pass from the right side after senior Pernilla Westergren delivered a ball from the middle of the pitch.

The match's initial goal marked Armenta's 15th tally of the season and moved the forward into sole possession of second place in the career record book with 35 goals.

Later, freshman Gabriela Rosas gave the Grizzlies a 2-0 advantage four minutes before halftime after receiving a left crossing pass from classmate Caroline Andersen.

The tournament hosts attempted seven of their 11 shots during the first half.

Bellevue applied pressure throughout the second half and cut the deficit in half, 2-1, when Ximena Jauregui successfully converted a penalty kick in the 67th minute. Seven of the team's 11 shots over the course of the last 45 minutes.

The Bruins almost squared the match in the 74th minute when a shot by Emma Stock hit the crossbar. Six minutes later, a long distance shot from Jauregui was stopped by GGC junior goalkeeper Matilda Johansson.

Armenta was named the CAC tournament's Most Outstanding Player while teammates Aurora Miglio, Ola Orelesi and Westergren earned all-tournament team honors.

Georgia Gwinnett College's 2023 league title joins the five straight championships from 2017-21.