Saturday, October 7, 2006

LATE GOAL LIFTS USC AIKEN TO WIN OVER LADY SAINTS
Annie Whitley scores in 78th minute to record victory for Pacers

AIKEN, S.C. – Sophomore Annie Whitley broke a scoreless tie in the 78th minute and keeper Heather Hall notched her fifth shutout of the season as USC Aiken’s women’s soccer team held off visiting North Georgia 1-0 in a key Peach Belt Conference match.

The Lady Pacers (5-8-2, 3-2-1 PBC) entered the contest in fifth place in the conference, but only one point ahead of the Lady Saints.

USCA earned their second consecutive PBC win, a feat the program had not accomplished since beginning conference play in 2000.  The three conference wins also mark the highest total the team has ever reached.  

The game began as a defensive battle, as the two teams swapped possession regularly in the midfield and neither seriously threatened to score throughout the first half.  The Lady Pacers fired nine shots in the first half, but only three shots on goal. Meanwhile, the Lady Saints could not break through the defense and failed to get a shot off as the teams entered halftime tied 0-0.  

The first thirty minutes of the second half were played in a similar fashion, as neither team was able to put together a successful scoring chance.  

Whitley finally provided the offense the Lady Pacers had been looking for, as she teamed with fellow midfielder Jennifer Goodwin for a beautifully executed give and go.  Whitley broke through the midfield and found Goodwin at the top of the box.  Goodwin immediately passed the ball back to the cutting Whitley, and the sophomore beat North Georgia keeper Leigha Terry for the game-winner.  
     
For the game, USC Aiken outshot North Georgia 18-6 while taking five corner kicks to the visitors one.  The Lady Saints were whistled for 12 fouls while USCA committed nine.  

Hall, a sophomore goalkeeper in her first season with the Lady Pacers, made two saves to earn her fifth shutout of the season.  That total leaves her just two shutouts behind Kellie Young’s school record of seven.  

North Georgia (7-6-1, 2-4-0 PBC) returns home to face Georgia College & State University Friday, October 13, at 6:00 PM.

-NGCSU-

Box Score

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