DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The No. 3-seed University of North Georgia women's soccer team edged out sixth-seeded Flagler, 3-2, to advance to the Peach Belt Conference semifinal at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Georgia on Friday. With the win the Nighthawks improve to 13-1-3 on the season.
Following a slow start to the game, the Nighthawks struck first in the 34th minute as
Brynn Finneran served in a ball from the top corner of the box that was flicked on to
Rachel VanHorn, by her sister
Renee VanHorn to give North Georgia its first lead of the night, 1-0.
Flagler brought the match back to level pecking in the 58th with a goal from Kaela Harmon coming off of the deflected save of Nighthawk goalkeeper,
Kaitlyn Siberski, coming off a free kick from Charlene Nowotny just outside the box.
The VanHorn sisters countered with two quick goals; Rachel blasted her second goal of the night in the upper 90 in the 67th, and Renee in the 68th minute taking advantage of a failed clearance by Flagler just in front of the net.
Flagler regained a glimmer of hope in the 71st minute with a successful penalty kick from Frida Lindblom, but it would not be enough as the Nighthawks made the 3-2 score stand to punch their ticket to Evans.
NOTES
- With the win the Nighthawks improve to 9-0-1 all-time against Flagler, the tie coming from the 1-1 draw between the two earlier in the season in St. Augustine.
- With the ticket to the semifinal punched, the Nighthawks advance to the PBC semifinals for the sixth time in the past seven years.
- With her 17th goal of the season,
Rachel VanHorn moves within one goal of tying the program record for goals in a single season. Two Nighthawks have scored 18 goals in a given year with Cicely Taliaferro last achieving the feat in 2014 and Kelly Penston set the bar in 2013.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will face No. 2-seed UNC Pembroke at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Georgia in the Peach Belt Conference semifinal on Friday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. More information on the PBC Soccer Tournament, including directions and admission prices, can be found on the
Tournament Website.