Friday, October 13, 2006

LATE GOAL SAVES NORTH GEORGIA
Lady Saints gain a point in Peach Belt Conference standings

Dahlonega, GA – Kelly Orear’s sliding attempt to save a ball from going out of bounds, proved to save North Georgia College & State University from defeat.  The ball rolled into the back of the net, preserving a 1-1 tie with Georgia College & State University in a key Peach Belt Conference match here on a chilly Friday night.

The Lady Saints found themselves fighting to stay in the game GCSU scored the game’s first goal in the 41st minute.  Hayley Ferrell, subbed into the game moments earlier, picked up a loose ball from about 35 yards and hammered it toward goal.  The ball went into upper right post, beating North Georgia goalkeeper Leigha Terry for a 1-0 lead.

The Bobcats controlled most of the match, peppering 20 total shots to North Georgia’s eight.  The only difference in the match was that when North Georgia took a shot, they put it on goal, recording six of their eight shots on goal.

The Lady Saints started to get breaks in the second half, and the big one came in the 87th minute.  The ball was cleared from the back by a Lady Saints’ defender.  It took a big hop between two GCSU defenders and then hit the foot of the goalkeeper.  The ball then ricocheted toward the end line, where a running Orear slide and poked it past the post and in to the net to tie the score at 1-1.

The game would stay that way, but not for lack of chances for both teams.  The first came in the first overtime period when three North Georgia players and two GCCSU players were going for a loose ball on the line.  The official blew an inadvertent whistle, leading to a drop ball inside the six-yard box.  The ball was kicked out by GCSU, but to the foot of Sarah Hales who blasted a shot that was blocked.

The Lady Saints would get another shot late in the contest when Katie Baribault crossed a ball to a waiting Lauren Cappy.  The header landed safely in the arms of Bobcats’ goalkeeper Kristen Moore.

Georgia College & State University (5-5-3, 2-3-3 PBC) also had their chances in the overtime, many coming off the foot of midfielder Daria Owen.  The freshman missed three chances on goal when she blasted shots from 25 and 30 yards out in the overtime periods.

North Georgia (7-6-2, 2-4-1 PBC) returns to action in the final home regular season match, on Wednesday against USC Upstate at 4 pm.  The game will be part of Student-Athlete Appreciation Night, Parks and Recreation night and Senior Night.

-NGCSU-

Box Score

Return to Women's Soccer