Preview | Box Score

FLORENCE, AL – The North Georgia College & State University women’s soccer team held an early lead Tuesday evening, but the powerful offense of the University of North Alabama never gave up and came roaring back to defeat the Lady Saints 3-1 in non-conference action.

North Georgia falls for the first time this season, seeing their four-game winning streak end at the hands of the Lions, dropping to 4-1-1 on the year, while North Alabama improves to 8-1-1 overall.

The Lady Saints rose to the occasion early as freshman Kelly Penston continued her brilliant play, guiding a header over the Lions’ keeper at the 7:34 mark to give North Georgia an early 1-0 lead. Brittany Bauschka tallied the assist on the score as Penston recorded her team-leading third goal of the season.

The advantage would be short-lived however as Jo Chubb deadlocked the game in the 16th minute, an unassisted goal to tie the game at a goal apiece. After 25 minutes of scoreless play, North Alabama took the lead for good just before halftime as Julia Osmond notched her first goal of the season, a free kick from 40 yards out to the lower right corner of the net to the give Lions a one-goal lead heading into intermission.

Shots were limited in the second half by both teams as North Georgia was forced to push forward in the final minutes in the hopes of tallying a late goal, but the Lions held on down the stretch, adding a goal in the final 20 seconds to seal the deal, giving North Alabama a 3-1 victory and sending the Lady Saints to their first defeat of the season.

Lions’ keeper Alex McLay recorded four saves in goal, allowing one goal in all 90 minutes of action, while her opponent, Jessica English suffered the loss, stopping four North Alabama shots, while allowing all three goals by the opposition.

The Lady Saints held an 8-7 lead in shots at intermission, but the Lions held the advantage at the final buzzer, finishing the game with 12 shots, to North Georgia’s 11.

North Georgia doubled-up North Alabama on corner kicks, sending 10 free kicks from the corner, while the Lions managed just five, as neither team was able to convert the advantage to a goal.

The Lady Saints will look to get back on track this Saturday, hosting Lander University in a Peach Belt Conference game set to start at 1:00 p.m. North Georgia will look to remain undefeated in league play as the Bearcats come to town at 3-1-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

North Georgia will make their home debut on Saturday, having played games in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, and Florida before finally returning to the Soccer Complex for their home opener. With six games on the road to start the season, the Lady Saints have already played more road game then all of last year after going 3-1 away from Dahlonega in 2008.