Bowen's Goals "Two" much for Pacers in PBC Opener
DAHLONEGA, GA – The North Georgia women's
soccer team opened Peach Belt Conference play with a bang on
Saturday evening, playing host to USC Aiken and using three
first-half goals to drop the Pacers 3-1 at the Soccer Complex.
The Lady Saints win their second straight game, improving to 3-1 on
the year and 1-0 in Peach Belt Conference action, while USC Aiken
remains winless on the young season, falling to 0-2 overall and 0-1
in the league.
North Georgia opened the game with plenty of energy, winning every
ball and converting in the 7th minute as the Lady Saints were
awarded a corner kick and Casey Smith sent a strike into the box,
finding the head of Samantha Abrahart who converted the first score
of the contest.
After 35 minutes of scoreless action, Emily Bowen checked into the
game and was effective immediately as Smith served up another
corner that was deflected off Natalie Douglass directly to Bowen
who chipped it home to make it a 2-0 game.
Bowen was at it again, just 14 seconds later, as the Lady Saints
took the ensuing kickoff and Brittany Schmidt found the Brentwood,
Tennessee, native inside the box who found the back of the net once
again, her second of the game and third of the season to give North
Georgia a 3-0 advantage heading into intermission.
The Lady Saints had a slew of chances in the second half, including
Abrahart's missed penalty kick, but it was the Pacers who
tallied the only score after halftime, tallying a 47th minute goal
as North Georgia keeper Jessica English came out and was beat by
Brittany Moores who notched her first goal of the year, making it a
3-1 game, a score that held true to the final buzzer.
North Georgia dominated offensively, recording 25 shots to just
four to USC Aiken, while the Lady Saints held a 7-1 advantage in
corners. Nicole Westphal started in goal for the Pacers, allowing
three goals and tallying five saves, while Alli Edens entered for
the second half and notched six saves while not allowing a goal.
English went the distance for North Georgia, allowing one goal and
picking up two saves.
The Lady Saints will look for their third straight win on Tuesday
evening, playing host to Newberry College in an all-important
non-conference matchup. Kickoff at the Soccer Complex is set for
6:00 p.m.
