Saints Claw Their Way Past Bears in Home Opener
DAHLONEGA, GA
– The North Georgia men's soccer team stayed undefeated on
the season Wednesday evening, scoring a pair of first-half goals on
their way to a 2-1 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne University at the
Soccer Complex in non-conference action.
The Saints improve to 2-0-1 on the year in the first of five
straight home games, while the Bears fall to 1-1 on the season.
North Georgia will continue their longest home stand of the year on
Saturday evening.
With both teams playing to a scoreless tie for the first 30
minutes, North Georgia's Chris Griffith
broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, taking a pass from Jesy Phelps and
belting a shot from the top of the box that just cleared the
keeper's reach to give the Saints a 1-0 advantage. For Griffith, it
was his first goal of the season, while Phelps tallied his first
assist in a North Georgia uniform.
Less than two minutes later at the 31:56 mark, Juan Hurtado struck
gold and sent a laser shot past goalkeeper Tom Heath to put the
Saints up 2-0. Hurtado and Chedgy both tallied their first goal
assist of the year respectively, a score that turned out to be the
game winner.
In the final minutes, Lenoir-Rhyne came to life and Dave Bailey
cut the North Georgia lead in half, taking a pass from Chibuzo
Nwosu and finding the right side of the net at the 86:03 mark. For
Bailey, his second goal in as many games brought the Bears to
within a goal, but the Saints held on in the final four minutes to
capture the 2-1 win.
Rade
Tanaskovic was stellar in goal for the Saints, tallying a
season-high seven saves, while allowing the single goal in the
final moments. L-R's Heath allowed both North Georgia goals while
picking up just one save.
Lenoir-Rhyne held an 11-10 advantage in shots, while the Saints
registered six corner kicks to just three for the Bears. North
Georgia's regulation victory is the first game for the Saints to
end in regulation, having played two games into double overtime to
open the season.
The Saints will now prepare for Saturday's Peach Belt Conference
opener against USC Aiken, playing host to the Pacers with a
primetime 7:30 p.m. kickoff at the Soccer Complex.
