HICKORY, North Carolina | The No. 14 University of North Georgia women's soccer team battled to its second draw of the year, 2-2, on Sunday afternoon at No. 20 Lenoir-Rhyne, but a 4-3 result in penalty kicks ended the Nighthawks run in the NCAA Division II Tournament. The result ends North Georgia's season at 17-4-2, which makes the team the winningest in North Georgia soccer history.
 
UNG came out firing on all cylinders in the first half with Mollie Arrendale finding the back of the net in the fourth minute of play, heading home a free kick from Megan Morrow.
 
Sophomore forward Jacy Ramey gave the Nighthawks a 2-0 lead when she headed in a Sophia Matonak cross in the 13th minute.
 
The Bears clawed their way back in scoring at the 37:26 mark when Dylan Bedell chipped a shot over the head of Mallory Sayre. Lenoir-Rhyne scored the equalizer in the 65th minute with Garcelle Alequine blasting a shot from 20-yards out.
 
North Georgia took a 3-2 lead in the penalty shootout, but a big save from L-R keeper Andrea Leano turned the momentum with the Bears coming back to win the shootout, 4-3 after knocking home their final two tries.

L-R (16-3-3) advances to face Columbus State in the round of 16. 
 
The draw capped off the stellar careers of UNG seniors Amy Lee, Megan Morrow, Sydney Reeder and Cicely Taliaferro, the winningest class in school history.

It also marked the third time in the past four seasons that the Nighthawks have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.