HICKORY, N.C. - The eighth-ranked University of North Georgia women's soccer team continued its dominant run Wednesday afternoon, rolling past (RV) Lenoir-Rhyne, 4–0, at the Moretz Sports Athletic Complex behind a brace from senior defender
Grace McGill and another shutout performance from
Isabelle Lee.
McGill wasted no time setting the tone, striking just two minutes into the match off a cross from
Bailey Oetinger to give the Nighthawks an early lead. From there, North Georgia (14-1-1) dictated the pace on both ends of the field, outshooting the Bears 20 to eight and applying relentless pressure throughout the opening half.
The Nighthawks erupted after intermission with a three-goal second-half flurry.
Nina Lopez doubled the advantage in the 47th minute, curling home her seventh goal of the year to make it 2-0.
Moments later, Oetinger found the back of the net in the 54th minute, this time on a setup from McGill, before McGill capped her five-point afternoon with her second goal of the match just three minutes later, assisted by
Kyleigh Drew.
Lee was rock solid in goal, recording four saves to secure her sixth clean sheet of the season while organizing a defense that allowed only four shots on target. The Nighthawks' back line frustrated Lenoir-Rhyne's attack all afternoon, holding the Bears without a corner kick and keeping L-R scoreless for just the fourth time this season.
The Nighthawks return to Peach Belt Conference play Saturday, Nov., 1 traveling to Morrow, Ga. to take on Clayton State in their final road test before postseason play begins.
