DAHLONEGA I Despite outshooting rival-Columbus State by a 20-12 margin, the eighth-ranked University of North Georgia women's soccer team couldn't find the important equalizer in the second half as the Nighthawks fell to the No. 9 Cougars, 3-2, Wednesday evening in front of a standing room only crowd at the UNG Soccer Complex. After the hard fought loss the Nighthawks slip to 3-1-1 on the season.
 
Columbus State struck first in the 16th minute with a shot from the back corner of the box by Mandy Janowitz sneaking it by North Georgia keeper Kaitlyn Siberski just inside the far post.
 
North Georgia would bring the game back to level pecking in the 30th with a near-perfect cross off the foot of Molly Arrendale finding Jacy Ramey just feet from the net for the equalizer.
 
The Cougars would counter with two goals in the 34th and 37th minutes. The goal in the 34th coming off a 1-2-touch and shot from Flo Spano made possible by a Mandy Janowitz assist. In the 37th Taylor Marks scored off of a deflection from a Amanda Murphy free-kick to give CSU the 3-1 that the Cougars took to halftime.
 
Both squads would go back-and-forth with possessions and opportunities for the majority of the second half until a late frenzy broke out in the 84th minute as Sophia Matonak found the back of the next off of a sweeping kick after a pass in from Renee Van Horn. The crowd energy remained high as the Nighthawks came fighting with several strong strikes at the goal, but the last ditch efforts wouldn't be enough to pull the game even.
 
NOTES
- Columbus State improves to 15-2-1 in the all-time series against UNG, having won the past six matches all by a one-goal margin. The last North Georgia win in the series came in Columbus on Oct. 23, 2013. CSU holds a 5-0-1 advantage in games played in Dahlonega.
 
- Sophia Matonak's goal in the final minute of the match was her first of the season giving Matonak the distinction of scoring in all four seasons played at North Georgia.
 
STAT OF THE NIGHT
9 – Columbus State goalkeeper Maylyn Parsons delivered another outstanding performance against the Nighthawks with nine saves on the night from what was at times a relentless UNG attack.
 
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will travel to Florence, South Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 24 to take on the Patriots of Francis Marion University. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m.