DAHLONEGA – The University of North Georgia (UNG) women's soccer team closed a 1-1 draw against Flagler Thursday evening at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park. As the first draw of the season, the Nighthawks are now 6-1-1 on the year and 2-0-1 in Peach Belt Conference competitions.
The last three weeks have been anything but easy for head coach
Kayley Ralton and her team. Before Thursday, UNG had played just one game over a 19-day stretch. Three games had been either canceled or postponed. In two of those games, the Nighthawks were slated to face opponents (Catawba, Lander) who currently sit above them in the United Soccer Coaches regional rankings.
Instead, the effects of Hurricane Helene caused UNG's schedule to be upended. The Nighthawks weren't even supposed to face Flagler this season until the final game of the regular season, originally scheduled for Nov. 2.
In an effort to help both teams, Flagler instead made the trip to Dahlonega on Thursday to face a UNG team that hadn't beaten the Saints since 2016.
Despite playing their first game in nine days, the Nighthawks came out strong and tallied numerous chances to score in the first half.
It did not take long for senior midfielder
Darby Olive to convert on one of those chances.
As freshman defender
Alli Treadwell dribbled the ball up the far sideline, she chipped it up-field intended for junior forward
Bailey Oetinger. Without hesitating, Oetinger flipped the ball to a streaking Olive who took over the possession. She drove between two defenders, made a scissor move to her right and slipped the ball past the Flagler keeper on the left side of the net.
The goal was Olive's second of the season to put UNG in front 1-0. The assists belonged to Oetinger and Treadwell, marking the first helper of the season for both of them.
The Nighthawks would not hold their lead for long.
In the 22nd minute, an unfortunate bounce favored the Saints as Andrea Fernandez found herself behind the defense with the ball on her foot. From point-blank distance, Fernandez beat UNG keeper
Sierra Fowler for the equalizer.
The two teams held the 1-1 draw into halftime.
The second half belonged to UNG, despite neither team breaking through on the scoreboard. In the final 45 minutes, the Nighthawks produced 10 shots, three of which were on target.
With the draw, UNG moves on to face Albany State in its next contest. The Nighthawks will head to Albany, Ga. on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 4 p.m.
