Box Score CENTRAL, S.C. - Junior Alex Grant scored the first goal of the season and assisted on the second as the University of North Georgia men's soccer team held on late to earn a 2-1 win over Southern Wesleyan Thursday night at SWU's Childs Field.

As the game closed in on halftime, Grant slipped a shot past the Warrior goalkeeper off a pass from Gustavo Alencar to take a 1-0 lead to the half. The Nighthawks doubled their lead in the 60th minute when junior Gabriel Garcia took Grant's pass and deposited it into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

The Warriors cut the lead in half in the 76th minute after earning a penalty kick and kept the pressure on UNG down the stretch, but the back line and goalkeeper Cade Minton were able to keep the ball out of the net to secure the win.

NOTES
- Tonight's matchup pit two preseason top-three teams in their respective conferences against each other. UNG was picked to finish in a tie for third in the Peach Belt, while SWU was picked second in the Conference Carolinas.

- North Georgia extends its unbeaten streak against the Warriors to five games with the win. UNG is 3-0-2 against Southern Wesleyan in the previous five games and 5-2-2 all-time.

- With the win, the Nighthawks won their first season opener since 2013 when they defeated Barry, 1-0.

- Despite being outshot, 19-17, North Georgia put 10 shots on goal to SWU's seven.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks come home to play Eckerd in Dahlonega on Saturday. Kick off for UNG's home opener is set for 1 p.m.