MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga.- The Georgia College Soccer team (3-1) took their first loss of the season to a tough out of conference University of West Georgia (1-1) team, 2-1 Sunday at Bobcat Field. The loss is the first for GC this season, the team's best start since 2018. 

The first half of the match was scoreless for both sides, with the Wolves and the Bobcats both having six shots. West Georgia struck first, scoring the first goal of the match in the 48th minute on a handball foul that resulted in a penalty kick. The Bobcats countered the goal with one of their own in the 75th minute of the game. 

The GC super senior Cassie Balzano (Douglasville) closed the gap by scoring the lone goal for the Bobcats. Alyssa Bergamini (West Suffield, Connecticut) set the ball for Balzano to finesse the goalkeeper for the goal. With this score, Balzano now has 30 career goals in her career. The assist from Bergamini brings her into a tie for eighth-place in school history with 10. She shares that slot with Balzano, Ragnheidur Bjarnadottir (2017) and Beth Coughlin (2018).

Despite the loss, goalkeeper Kate Richardson (Marietta) had eight saves Sunday night, a season-high for the sophomore, and the most in a single match for her since stopping 11 shots March 29 against Flagler College. 

The Bobcats are back in action Saturday Sept. 18 to kick off conference play against No. 16 Columbus State University. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Bobcat Field. Live stats and a live broadcast of the match will be available at GCBobcats.com. 

The proud recipients of the 2021 PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GC Athletics is now two-time winners of both the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the league's sportsmanship honor. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in post-season competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics holds to the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life". Sign up at @GCBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.