by Katie Parker, sports information graduate assistant
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The Bobcat Shootout opened
today (Sept. 4) with a pair of shutouts as Florida Tech (1-1) upset
No. 12 Armstrong Atlantic State University (2-1), 2-0 and Catawba
College (1-1) held off tournament host Georgia College & State
University (2-1), 1-0.
The Pirates earned their No. 12 ranking after posting two
shutouts last weekend to open the season with a total of 11 goals
scored. However, the Panthers didn't let the ranking intimidate
them. Florida Tech came out of the gate full speed ahead,
outshooting AASU seven to four in the first period.
The Panthers kept clawing their way back on offense in the
second half. Junior DeeDee Newland outhustled Pirate goalkeeper
Tracey Mitchell beating her to a loose ball to net the first goal
of the contest during the 54th minute. Newland's goal
was the first for Florida Tech this season.
Mitchell managed to snag six saves this afternoon, including one
penalty kick. Melissa Pyles, of Florida Tech, saw some action in
between the pipes as well claiming three saves for the game.
With a 1-0 lead in the 83rd minute, Panther sophomore
Megan Stone had the ball just inside midfield and maneuvered her
way cross field past a sea of Armstrong Atlantic defenders to send
one by a diving Mitchell for goal number two, taking the wind out
of the Pirates' sails.
The Panthers outshot the Pirates tonight 16-7 with a 6-3
advantage on corner kicks.
Game two of the Bobcat Shootout started off with excitement as
Catawba's Maria Borland connected with teammate Meritt Rollins, who
blasted one towards the fingers of Bobcat goalkeeper Jessica
Binkowski (Cumming, Ga.). The ball bounced off of
Binkowski's fingertips making contact with the post, ricocheting
into the net during the 16th minute. The goal was
Rollins' second of the season and Borland's first assist.
The Bobcats tried to battle back by creating opportunities to
score with five shots on goal. The overall shot contest was a draw,
with each team recording eight. Georgia College edged out the
Indians in corner kicks 3-1.
In the net, Binkowski claimed three saves during her 90 minutes
while Catawba's Chelsea Binder recorded five saves for her
complete-game effort.
The Bobcat Shootout continues Sunday, Sept. 6 with game one
starting at noon matching up Armstrong Atlantic and Catawba. The
tournament will finish up after the 2:30 p.m. contest between host
Georgia College and Florida Tech.
The GCSU Department of Athletics, winners of the 2008-09 PBC
Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the
NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, GCSU prides
itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by
the Bobcats' multiple appearances in post-season competition as
well as documented academic success and community-service
involvement. Sign up at Twitter.com username GCSUSID for
up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCSUBobcats.com to nominate
your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GCSU Athletics
Hall of Fame.
