Box Score MILLEDEGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College Soccer team (3-3-1, 1-3 PBC) dropped a grueling overtime match 2-1 to the Braves of UNC Pembroke (5-2, 3-0 PBC) Wednesday night at Bobcat Field.
The Bobcats set the tone early when senior Sol Baldassini (Miami, Florida) fired a fantastic ball from deep beyond the left wing into the upper right corner of the net to give the Bobcats a lead just over four minutes into the match.
The pace and physicality of the game really picked up at the start of the second half. UNC Pembroke caught a break early when Mackenzie Wright drew a foul inside the penalty box and buried her penalty kick for the equalizer in the 55th minute. The Bobcats got into some foul trouble throughout the second, giving the Braves two free kicks just outside the top of the box. Fortunately for the Bobcats, the Braves were unable to capitalize on the scoring opportunities.
Georgia College sophomore keeper Ashlee Graham (Decatur) had a nice night between the posts with seven saves. A big moment in the game came in the 83rd minute on a Braves corner kick, placed perfectly in the box and headed toward Graham. The former All-Peach Belt Conference (PBC) pick deflected and gathered it for the save.
The Bobcats almost won it with just under two minutes left when junior Rahliat Animashaun (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) fired a cross just over the foot of senior Cayce Hamilton (Johns Creek), sending this match to overtime, the Bobcats really picked up the pace over the final 10 minutes and had a few solid chances.
The match could not be decided after regulation, but it didn't take long into the first overtime period for there to be a victor. UNC Pembroke senior midfielder Amber Watkins rebounded a diving save from Bobcat keeper Jessica Catapano (Alpharetta), and struck a shot from the baseline. Catapano nearly made a second miraculous save, but the shot attempt ticked off her glove as she tried to regain her feet and eventually bounded across the goal line resulting a 2-1 UNCP victory.
The Bobcats look to bounce back when they visit non-conference opponent Auburn University at Montgomery Saturday, Sept. 31 at 3 p.m.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on social media for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.
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