HICKORY, N.C. — After eight games with six on the road, the No. 19 University of North Georgia women's soccer team took its first loss of the season against a talented Lenoir Rhyne squad 3-1 in non-conference action. An early penalty kick goal for L-R was the catalyst for the Bears win, taking the 1-0 lead and holding it throughout.
In the fifth minute, Ria Acton (L-R) stepped up to the penalty spot to take the lead, scoring her second goal of the season. It would be one of two penalty kick opportunities for the Bears, with
Sierra Fowler saving the second to keep North Georgia in the fight.
After heading into halftime with a 1-0 deficit, UNG allowed a second goal, this time a Neve Duston (L-R) goal in the 58th minute. The Nighthawks would continue to press, continuing a trend of resolve when trailing, pulling within one of L-R through a
Grace McGill goal in the 66th minute, beating the keeper to give UNG a shot at the equalizer.
North Georgia would push for the tying goal before Lenoir Rhyne took advantage of the aggressive, offensive attack of the Nighthawks, scoring a late goal in the 88th minute to put the game out of reach.
UNG will regroup after their first loss of the season and head back on the road and into Peach Belt Conference play, facing Clayton State on Saturday (Sept. 30) at 5:30 p.m. in Morrow, Ga. CSU holds a 3-3-2 record, ending a three-game losing streak in their last time out with a 3-0 win over USC Aiken.
