Wednesday, October 18, 2006

PANDEMONIUM IN DAHLONEGA
Rector's goal lifts Saints to upset over sixth-ranked USC Upstate

Dahlonega, GA – The season winding down...the fog settling in...rainy weather for the last two days...the sixth-ranked team in the country paying a visit to Dahlonega.

Everything was for the taking for the North Georgia College & State University Saints, and did they ever take it.

Joey Rector's running goal with just 32 seconds remaining in the second overtime lifted the Saints to a 1-0 upset victory over sixth-ranked USC Upstate in Peach Belt Conference action here Wednesday night.

On a night where the seniors were honored for playing their final home match of their careers, it was a freshman and junior who shifted the intensity and the celebration to the Saints and left USC Upstate to wonder.

After Sheldon Best found himself cornered on the northeast side of the field, somehow he managed to get the ball to freshman midfielder Carlos Manelia at the corner flag. Manelia lifted a cross in the air, onto the foot of a running Rector for the game-winning goal in the 109th minute.

"I don't know," said a jubilant Rector after the match about his game-winning goal.

The same statement could have been made as to how North Georgia was able to hang on to win the match in the second overtime.

The answer...simple.

Great defensive play and outstanding goalkeeping kept the ball out of the back of the net all night. Senior goalkeeper Brandon Kirksey made nine saves and none more amazing then in the first overtime when he stymied USC Upstate's Liam Slack and David Stanbra three times from point-blank range. Throw in the fact that Will Maxwell and Brent Staley kept the ball out of the net on two occassions where it looked like USC Upstate was about to win, and the Saints were able to hang around long enough for the victory.

Both teams had their chances throughout the match before the game-winner was knocked home.

USC Upstate outshot North Georgia 20-13 on the night, with Ryan Cooper recording six saves in the nets for the Spartans.

But in the end, Rector's goal will stay on the scoreboard until next season's home opener, and will remind the 2006 senior class about their final game at the NGCSU Soccer Complex.

North Georgia (5-10-1, 3-3 PBC) returns to action on Saturday as they travel to Greenwood, S.C. to take on Lander University at 3:30 pm.

-NGCSU-

Box Score

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