DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The North
Georgia College & State University women’s soccer team
had a gutsy performance against Armstrong Atlantic State
University, but were unable to stop the attack of freshman
forward Lyndsi Stricklen and the Pirates offense as AASU defeated
the Saints 5-3 in Peach Belt Conference action.The Lady Saints (1-11-0, 0-7-0) struck first off of the foot of freshman forward Elizabeth Franklin at the 9:26 mark after she blew through the defense and blasted the ball past the goalie. The North Georgia lead only lasted 12 seconds before freshman forward Shana Neves received a pass from senior midfielder Claire McCombe and shot it in the back of the net to tie the match 1-1. Three minutes past before the Pirates (8-6-0, 4-1-0) took the lead off of a goal from Stricklen. AASU held the lead for 22 minutes before Franklin broke away to knot the match 2-2 heading into the half.
As the second half opened the Pirates took possession of the ball quickly and attacked the North Georgia defense. McCombe scored the game-winning goal in the 65th minute after receiving a pass from junior defender Jessica Chipple. Chipple added a goal of her own three minutes later off of an assist from junior midfielder Donna Cheyne to make the score 4-2. The Pirates finished out their offensive output in the 69th minute off of Stricklen’s second goal and Chipple’s second assist of the match. The Lady Saints went on one last run in the final minute of the match and cut the lead to two off of a chip shot from freshman midfielder Lauren Cappy that went over the head of freshman goalkeeper Lisa Gray to make it a 5-3 game.
Both sides shot the ball well with 16 shots for AASU and 14 for North Georgia in the match. Gray tallied four saves in the first half and none in the second while Lady Saints sophomore goalie Kelly Conarro make six saves in the match.
North Georgia plays again this weekend as they host USC Aiken for a 1:00 p.m. match at the NGCSU Soccer Complex. The Pirates take on USC Upstate next Tuesday on the road at 7:00 p.m.