DAHLONEGA – The No. 5 University of North Georgia (UNG) women's soccer team pulled out a 3-2 win over Columbus State (CSU) at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park on Military Appreciation Night Wednesday.
With the win the Nighthawks improved to 8-0-1 (4-0-0 Peach Belt) and took a firm grasp of the Peach Belt Conference standings with Wednesday's win. Either the Cougars or Nighthawks have won each of the last four PBC regular-season titles.
With UNG's second-best nine-match start in program history, the Nighthawks control first place in the PBC at 4-0 with a one-game lead over USC Beaufort in second place who UNG already defeated in the conference opener.
In what has been a budding rivalry in recent years it was clear Wednesday's installment of UNG vs. CSU was going to be a showdown. High intensity and numerous scoring opportunities materialized in the opening minutes.
The Nighthawks got on the board in the 22nd minute with one of their best goals of the season. It was not a goal of the year candidate, but instead a moment of the year candidate when senior cadet
Grace McGill scored the first goal of the game.
In front of a large crowd that was boosted by a strong presence from members of UNG's Corps of Cadets, their fellow member put the Nighthawks ahead 1-0 with her second goal of the season after a forced turnover and assist from senior forward
Kyleigh Drew. After scoring the goal, McGill immediately raced to the near sideline to celebrate with her fellow cadets.
UNG held its 1-0 lead at halftime before quickly growing the lead in the second half.
Drew recorded her second assist of the season when she fed senior forward
Bailey Oetinger on the near side by the corner of the 18-yard box. Oetinger made a touch towards the inside, blasting past her defender in the process. She planted her right foot and ripped a shot with her left. The ball screamed off Oetinger's boot and past Cougars keeper Heidi Harris. Oetinger's fifth goal of the season was accompanied by Drew's fifth assist as the Nighthawks celebrated a 2-0 second-half lead.
CSU quickly amped up the pressure after falling behind by a pair of goals. With scoring chances increasing, the Cougars finally broke through with a 65th-minute goal from Sarah Hungerford. Hungerford then tied the game just two minutes later after the Nighthawks were called for a penalty inside the box. Hungerford's penalty kick goal equalized the game with a little over 20 minutes remaining.
The ball raced up and down the field as both teams tried to find the game winner. With the clock winding down below 15 minutes, the Nighthawks got another chance and took advantage.
Outside the near corner of the box, senior midfielder
Adleigh Wheeler played the ball towards the corner for senior defender
Alex Clark. Clark's cross was deflected by a CSU defender near the front post but sophomore forward
Blanca Cruz was able to get her right foot on the ball. Cruz tapped it up over Harris' head and into the back of the net for her team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Her first goal of the game not only marked her PBC-leading sixth of the season, but it also marked her third game-winning goal of the year which leads the team as well.
Clark and Wheeler were each credited with an assist.
Now the Nighthawks will head on the road to face Lander in Greenwood, S.C. on Saturday, Oct. 4. Kick off is set for 1 p.m.
