(DAHLONEGA) – The University of North Georgia (UNG) women’s soccer team secured a dominant 3-0 victory against Clayton State Wednesday night at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park.
The win keeps UNG within striking distance of No. 2 Columbus State who leads the Peach Belt Conference with a 6-0 conference record and 18 points. The Nighthawks at 9-2-1 overall and 5-1-1 in conference play sit two points behind the Cougars. UNG heads to Columbus, Ga. to take on Columbus State this Saturday with a chance to claim first place with a win.
After suffering its first loss in the NCAA era to Georgia Southwestern on Saturday, the Nighthawks kicked off on Wednesday in desperate need of a win. They took on a Clayton State team that entered the game with a 7-1-4 record this year, marking the Lakers’ best season since 2014.
UNG dominated the first half despite an inability to find the score sheet. The Nighthawks not only controlled time of possession, but they held Clayton State to just one shot attempt in the first 45 minutes.
With eight shots in the first half, UNG earned multiple scoring opportunities but couldn’t score. That quickly changed in the second half.
Just 48 seconds out of the locker room, a through ball from freshman forward Blanca Cruz found junior forward Bailey Oetinger behind the defense. From just outside the six yard box, Oetinger easily buried the shot past Laker keeper Trinity Chastain.
With the goal, Oetinger has now found the back of the net six times this season, a team high this year. 17 minutes later, Oetinger would help UNG find the back of the net.
As she dribbled the ball on the near sideline in the attacking third, Oetinger cut inside across the defense. She rifled a pass across the middle of the field to find an open Darby Olive. The senior midfielder hesitated for a moment, dribbled to her left and shot the ball with her left foot. It bounced past Chastain and into the back of the net giving the Nighthawks a stranglehold on the contest. Junior midfielder Alex Clark also had an assist on the play.
As the game wound down and it was clear UNG was going to come out with a win, the Nighthawks earned a free kick from just outside the box. With three minutes left in the game, sophomore midfielder Angie Garcia took the set piece opportunity and scored her first goal of the season as she curved the ball around the Laker wall and into the far side of the net.
Against a Clayton State team that boasted one of the best scorers in the nation, UNG earned its fourth shutout of the season, only allowing one shot the entire game. The entire back line dominated, but junior defender Alizee Buresi was particularly impressive against Laker senior forward Carrie Consolino.
Consolino entered the night with 14 goals and 32 points this season, Both marks rank as the second most in the country this season. Her per game averages in each category led the country. Yet with Buresi and a barrage of other defenders, Consolino was silenced on Wednesday as she played 73 minutes without a shot attempt. Clayton State’s only shot in the game came from forward Amiah Sprunger-Hightower.
Now the Nighthawks turn their attention towards No. 2 Columbus State. The Cougars hold first place in the conference and have not given up a goal in three straight matches. Columbus State holds a 12-0-1 record this season. Its only draw this season came against No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne back on Sep. 25.
UNG and the Cougars will kick off on Saturday, Oct. 30 from Columbus at 2 p.m. With a win, the Nighthawks will move one point ahead of Columbus State and into first place in the PBC.
