VALDOSTA, Ga. | A pair of
Mollie Arrendale goals helped lift the No. 19 University of North Georgia women's soccer team to their first win of the season defeating No. 24 Valdosta State, 3-0, Friday evening in Valdosta. The game was the season opener for both teams.
North Georgia gave an impressive performance in the first game of their 2015 campaign, dominating in every statistical category, perhaps most impressively holding the Blazers to just two shots without VSU putting a single shot on frame.
The Nighthawks didn't waste much time getting on the board as Arrendale converted on a ball from
Jacy Ramey to put UNG up 1-0 in the 13th minute.
Rachel VanHorn would add on to the lead with an unassisted goal just six minutes later.
Arrendale tacked onto the lead again in the second half as she scored her second goal of the night with some help from
Sophia Matonak in the 48th minute to give North Georgia the 3-0 lead that proved final.
NOTES-
Mollie Arrendale's two goals are a single-game career best for the junior out of Atlanta and were career goals number 11 and 12.
- Six different players had shots on goal for the Nighthawks: Arrendale,
Rachel VanHorn,
Taylor Wagnon,
Sophia Matonak,
Michaela Sundstrom, and
Madison Salters - North Georgia now owns a 2-0 all-time record against Valdosta State. The Nighthawks won the only other meeting between the two schools last season, 2-0, in Dahlonega.
- UNG is now 7-1-1 in opening day contests dating back to 2007.
- The shutout is the 18th in
Mallory Sayre's career, extending the school record that she already owns.
STAT OF THE NIGHT17-2 – UNG outshot Valdosta State 17-2 in the affair holding a 10-0 advantage on shots on goal.
NEXT UPThe Nighthawks will continue the three-game opening road swing with a trip to Converse College on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., in the Palmetto State.
