MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Jamie
Craine scored a pair of goals to lead Armstrong Atlantic
State University to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Georgia College
& State University in Saturday’s Peach Belt Conference
women’s soccer regular season finale at Bobcat Field. With
the win, Armstrong Atlantic State (10-7, 6-2 PBC) locks up the #3
seed in Tuesday’s Peach Belt Conference Tournament opening
round and will turn around and host sixth-seeded GC&SU
(9-5-2, 3-3-2 PBC) in Savannah.GC&SU got on the scoreboard first in the 16th minute as Arielle Bryant scored her first goal of the season with assists from Tami Pissott and Meredith Moran. AASU answered three minutes later as Craine tied the game at 1-1 with an assist from Donna Cheyne.
Candice Modlinski gave the Pirates their first lead of the night in the 28th minute with her first goal following a corner kick from Cheyne. The Bobcats would answer late in the first half as Hobie Sasser squared things at 2-all in the 37th minute following an assist from Emily Norris.
GC&SU out-shot AASU 12-9 in a wild first half.
The Pirates came out firing in the second half and took the lead in the 59th minute on Lyndsi Stricklen’s 12th goal of the season with an assist from Shana Neves. Craine would give AASU a seemingly commanding 4-2 lead with another goal in the 73rd minute with another assist from Neves.
GC&SU would not go away quietly as Meredith Moran cut the deficit in half with a goal on a penalty kick in the 80th minute. The Bobcats had several offensive charges in the last few minutes, bur the Pirates were able to turn them away on each opportunity to hold on for the 4-3 win.
GC&SU out-shot AASU 22-20 for the match, but the Pirates held a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
Lisa Gray had six saves in goal for AASU, while GC&SU goalkeeper Michelle Parr was kept busy with nine saves on the night.
The Bobcats and Pirates will kick off their first round PBC Tournament game in Savannah on Tuesday at 2 p.m.