FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8-25-05

College Soccer: West Georgia 4, Armstrong Atlantic 0

By: Jay Carmichael, AASU Student Assistant

CARROLLTON, Ga. – Despite a valiant effort in the inaugural game of the soccer program at Armstrong Atlantic State, the Pirates' women's soccer team fell to the the Braves of West Georgia on Thursday night in Carrollton, Ga. With a shut-out game in goal from West Georgia's Samantha Malone the Braves were able to cruise a 4-0 victory.

West Georgia started the match with heavy offensive pressure lead by junior forward Sarah Sohlberg. At the 37:14 mark, Sohlberg dribbled the ball inside the eighteen and shot. After an initial save by AASU junior goalkeeper Tarra Kohler, Sohlberg's follow-up shot found the back of the net, which gave the Lady Braves the lead at 1-0. Kohler notched five saves in goal for the Pirates.

The Braves' Margaret Jonsdottir, a sophomore from Iceland, placed a wonderful through ball which lead to another Sohlberg goal for West Georgia, giving them a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.

In the second half, AASU junior Jessica Chipple (Hinesville, Ga.) committed a foul in the box awarding a penalty kick to West Georgia. Sohlberg converted for her third goal and a hat trick. With a 3-0 score, the Lady Braves would put the nail in the coffin when Sohlberg's breakaway in the 75th minute resulted in a chip past Kohler to close out the scoring at 4-0.

"We started the game quite nervous and West Georgia really applied pressure to us from the opening whistle," AASU head coach Eric Faulconer said. "It's a young season and hopefully we can clean up some of the mistakes we are making to give us an opportunity to win games."

Despite the score advantage, AASU matched the Braves in shots with 12, including three by captain Donna Cheyne and two each by Chelsea Kaiser and Shana Neves.

- Pirates -