Week 11
vs. Clayton State
Date: Nov. 15
Kickoff: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Evans, Ga.
Stadium: Blanchard Woods Park
Series: UNG leads, 10-8-3
Last Meeting: UNG 1, CSU 0 (2019)
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video
Game Preview: The University of North Georgia women's soccer team continues their quest for their first PBC Tournament Championship with a semifinal matchup against Clayton State Friday
Follow Live: Links, courtesy of the Peach Belt Conference, are available above. Fans can also follow the action through Twitter by following the women's soccer team (@UNGWSOC).
Rankings: North Georgia sits at No. 18, the highest ranking of the year for UNG. Flagler is also in the poll, holding at No. 3. The Nighthawks came in at No. 3 in the NCAA Southeast Regional rankings Wednesday, trailing No. 1 Flagler and No. 2 Lenoir-Rhyne.
Last Time Out: The Nighthawks defeated Young Harris, 3-0, in the quarterfinal round, securing a Battle of Blood Mountain point in the process. Katey Derkay scored in the fifth minute before goals by Taylor Malasek and Maysoon El-Shami in the final 10 minutes of the match sealed the win.
Clayton State: Clayton State had the lone upset of the quarterfinals, earning a 1-1 draw before advancing on penalties past UNC Pembroke. At 8-6-2 on the year, Manoly Baquerizo leads the Lakers with eight goals and four assists. North Georgia is 10-8-3 against Clayton State all-time, including a 1-0 win over the Lakers back on October 23. The two sides have played once in Evans, a 2-1 win for UNG back in 2014.
Earlier Meeting: A 72nd minute goal from Taylor Malasek is all that was needed as UNG got back on the winning track with a 1-0 win over Clayton State on October 23.
Postseason Awards: Taylor Malasek was named the PBC Elite 15 Winner for women's soccer, marking the first time a women's soccer player at UNG has won the award. Modeled after the NCAA Elite 90, the Elite 15 Award is given at each of the 15 PBC championships to the student-athlete competing in the championship with the highest over cumulative GPA. North Georgia had five players named All-Conference, including three first-teamers. Taylor Malasek (forward), Maysoon El-Shami (midfielder) and Olivia Dumphy (defender) were each named to the first team. Katey Derkay (forward) and Morgan Ramby (goalkeeper) were named to the second team.
Statistics: North Georgia ranks first in the league in goals-against-average, save percentage and shutout percentage. UNG is third in the conference in assists per game, points per game, scoring offense, total assists, total goals and total points. Morgan Ramby leads the Peach Belt in goals-against-average at .506 and in save percentage at .846. Taylor Malasek is tied for first in the league and fifth in the nation in game-winners with six. She is third in the league in goals scored with 13.
Tournament History: North Georgia has played in 13 straight PBC tournaments, making it to the championship game four times.
PBC Tournament Outlook: The other semifinal sees top-seeded Flagler taking on fourth-seeded Columbus State for a chance at the PBC Tournament Championship.
