EVANS, Ga. | After falling behind early in the second half, the No. 17 University of North Georgia women’s soccer team scored on a pair of set pieces to pull off the come-from-behind victory over Armstrong State, 2-1. The Nighthawks advance to the Peach Belt Tournament semifinal with the dramatic win, setting up a rematch of last year’s title game with Columbus State.
The game was scoreless at the half and would remain that way until the 56th minute when the Pirates’ leading scorer, Jenny Allen, pushed a chip shot over the head of Mallory Sayre to put Armstrong up, 1-0.
UNG took advantage of their third corner kick of the game as Jade Pennock‘s ball found the head of Jessica Allen for the equalizer in the 71st minute.
Both teams battled for the remainder of the regulation and the first period of overtime not able to capitalize on a few good looks each, but North Georgia came out of the gates on fire in the second period of overtime with an immediate attack.Rachel VanHorn worked around the left side of the Armstrong defense to get a great shot on goal that was saved by ASU’s Morgan Luckie. While Luckie made the big save it set up a UNG corner kick and the Nighthawks would once again capitalize on the set piece.
Pennock’s corner kick would find Sophia Matonak who in turn found Jacy Ramey who finished the excellent opportunity for the game-winning goal.
NOTES
– The overtime win is the first this season for UNG. The Nighthawks were previously 0-1-1 this year when playing past regulation with a tie to Armstrong (0-0) and a loss at Clayton State (2-1).
– The Nighthawks will be making their third appearance in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game. UNG is 0-2 in their previous two championship game appearances with both defeats coming at the hands of Columbus State, who North Georgia will once again face on Sunday.
– The game-winning goal is the sixth of the season for Jacy Ramey. She leads the team in the category.
– The victory is just the sixth all-time for North Georgia against Armstrong with the all-time record in the Pirates’ advantage, 6-11-2. However, UNG is 2-0-1 in the previous three meetings.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I’m very pleased with how we paid attention to the small details today,” UNG head coach Chris Adams said. “We stayed in it. You can never question the grit of this group. I wish we wouldn’t have done it in cardiac fashion, but that just shows the character and determination of this team. I couldn’t be prouder.”
STAT OF THE DAY
2-0 – UNG outshot the Pirates 2-0 – including the game-winning goal – in the second period of overtime with an immediate attack off the first touch, never letting Armstrong possess the ball in the period.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will take on Columbus State in the PBC Tournament championship game at 1 p.m., on Sunday at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Georgia.
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