Saints Rally Late to Edge St. Andrews 2-1

North Georgia picks up first victory of season

Box Score

Mount Olive, NC – North Georgia College & State University fell behind early, but rallied for a pair of goals to sneak past St. Andrews 2-1 on the final day of the Mount Olive Sleep Inn Classic.

Eric York broke a 1-1 tie in the 76th minute with a long-range shot on a pass from Ben Ellgass to give the Saints their first lead of the game and eventually their first win of the 2008 season.

York was named to the All-Tournament Team after his game-winning goal, and was joined by Stan Soulen who tallied an assist in each game.
  
St. Andrews (1-1-0) got on the scoreboard less than five minutes into the match as Alex Smith played a ball from midfield deep into the North Georgia third. Justin Garton dribbled past the defense and scored from 10 yards out to give the Knights a 1-0 lead at the 4:41 mark.
 
After having a goal negated by an offside call in the 14th minute, North Georgia (1-1-0) evened the match five minutes later on a restart. Soulen played a long service to York, who shot from the top of the box. St. Andrews goalkeeper Nick Stevens blocked the shot, but Terry Gibbs headed the deflection home to tie the match at 1-1.
 
The score remained tied going into intermission after both keepers prevented go-ahead goals late in the first half. Rade Tanaskovic made a kick save for the Saints on Bryan Humphrey’s breakaway attempt and Nick Stevens made a diving save for St. Andrews on Calvin Cook’s header in the 36th minute.
 
Neither team had many scoring opportunities in the second half until York’s game-winner. Ben Ellgass played the ball to York, whose low line drive went through just inside the left post to give North Georgia its first leave.
 
St. Andrews had an opportunity during the final 10 minutes on a pair of corner kicks, but Tanaskovic made a save on the lone shot attempt.
 
Tanaskovic recorded five saves, while Stevens finished with three. North Georgia outshot St. Andrews 9-8.

North Georgia returns to action next weekend as they head to the Laker Shootout in Morrow, Georgia, to take on Anderson University and Belmont Abbey.

Mount Olive Sleep Inn Classic
All Tournament Team
Angelo Acquah – Mount Olive College
Adrian Daniels – Mount Olive College
Tyler Held – Catawba College
Brian Humphrey – St. Andrews
Stan Soulen – North Georgia
Alex Smith – St. Andrews
Eric York – North Georgia