DAHLONEGA – The No. 22 University of North Georgia women's soccer team fell 2-1 to Florida Tech in a hotly contested matchup Sunday evening. The loss is just the second in the last two years the Nighthawks have suffered at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park.

The Panthers entered the game receiving the most votes of any team outside the top-25 in the United Soccer Coaches (USC) week one poll. After a run to the Final Four last season, Florida Tech was ranked as the preseason No. 3 team in the country.

It was clear why the Panthers entered Dahlonega with such high expectations this season. Despite losing a number of players and their head coach from last season, this year's roster is still full of talent. Florida Tech gave UNG fits early, pressuring the ball in its attacking third of the field. The UNG back line was forced to be very deliberate and cautious in the early goings of the game.

Despite Florida Tech controlling possession in the first half, the Nighthawks found a number of chances. Junior midfielder Adleigh Wheeler placed a couple shots on target, freshman midfielder Nina Lopez was in the mix offensively, but nothing substantial came to fruition.

For the Panthers, they threw their best punch at UNG starting junior goalkeeper Faith Bullied.

Bullied started just her third career game Sunday in place of the injured Sierra Fowler, an all-american keeper last season. Bullied wowed the Nighthawk faithful with a number of daring saves early in the game. She punched a laser beam shot up into the air for a save. She placed herself perfectly to swallow another shot. A few minutes later she charged through a Florida Tech attacker to retrieve a ball and rid the danger. Bullied kept UNG in the game with her impressive effort in the first half.

The two teams went to the locker room still tied where they started at 0-0.

In the second half, the Nighthawks opened the scoring with a sudden goal from junior forward Bailey Oetinger. 

After a Panther turnover at midfield, Lopez had a crease to pick up the ball and sprint into the attacking zone. She left all white jerseys in the dust and played Oetinger perfectly past her defender. The transfer from Lipscomb didn't even need a touch, once she caught up to the ball just one step inside the box, she laced a cannon that whistled past the outstretched hand of Panther keeper Kaitlin Sinkler, under the crossbar and into the back of the net. 

Oetinger, who scored her first goal as a Nighthawk in Wednesday's 7-0 win over Young Harris, is now tied for the team lead in goals.

While UNG attempted to ride the momentum from the game's opening score, the Panthers quickly got back to work. Less than five minutes after Oetinger's goal, forward Savannah Oxley gathered herself as she waited for a beautiful cross from teammate Katie Ormerod. Oxley leaped and headed the ball milliseconds before senior defender Cat Watry stepped in front of the shot. The ball bounced past Bullied, leveling the game at 1-1. 

While the two teams continued to duel after Florida Tech's equalizer, a costly mistake would hinder the Nighthawks' chances at a win. 

All game long, the Panther attackers applied severe pressure to the UNG back line. The Nighthawks handled the pressure very well the entire evening, except for one pivotal instance in the 61st minute.

After two back passes placed the ball on Bullied's foot, the keeper attempted to clear it on one touch. However, attempting to angle a ball to her right that she received from her left side, the awkward angle left Bullied in a tricky spot. As she tried to clear the ball, it spun upwards on her foot and fluttered up into the air and to the right. It was headed directly to the middle of the field in a lonely patch of turf that neither team occupied. That changed when Ormerod charged forward and shot the ball on her first touch after its third bounce. 

The ball was on a direct path for the net until Bullied dove to her right and stopped it. Unfortunately, the deflection went off the inside edge of the post, directing the ball into the back of the net, making it 2-1 Florida Tech. 

Despite a full fledged effort to tie the game, the Nighthawks were unable to capitalize on any opportunities for the remainder of the game. 

UNG suffers its first loss of the season, falling to 3-1-0. Now the Nighthawks will prepare to hit the road for the first time this season as they head to Harrogate, Tenn. to take on Lincoln Memorial. The first road test of the season is scheduled for Wednesday, Sep. 18 at 1 p.m.