DAHLONEGA – The No. 13 University of North Georgia (UNG) women's soccer team remained unbeaten after a 2-2 draw against No. 16 Lee at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park Sunday afternoon.
In a ranked matchup between two of the top teams in the country, UNG dominated the Lady Flames in the first half.
Maintaining possession and numerous scoring chances, the Nighthawks got on the board in the 13th minute thanks to a spectacular goal from sophomore midfielder
Nina Lopez.
After receiving the ball outside the 18-yard box on the near side of the field, Lopez was surrounded by three Lee defenders. With her back to the goal, she feigned a move towards midfield and then spun towards the net.
She fooled all three defenders and whizzed past them to the top of the box. Lopez planted with her left foot and rifled a right-footed goal at the net. Lady Flames goalkeeper Abby Whitcomb dove to her right and deflected the ball, but it was still too far out of her reach as it zipped into the back of the net.
Lopez celebrated her third goal of the season as the Nighthawks went ahead 1-0. Senior forward
Meghan O'Brien was credited with her first assist of the season.
A few minutes later, O'Brien would be on the receiving end of an assist as she padded UNG's lead.
All game long, the Nighthawks found success offensively by switching the field with cross-pitch passes that gave ball carriers open space to operate. That's exactly what happened when junior defender
Grace McGill crossed the ball to senior defender
Alexa Aronoff on the near side in the midfield area. Aronoff quickly played it forward to O'Brien who possessed the pass without a defender within 10 yards.
As O'Brien methodically dribbled towards the penalty area, Lee defender Avery Sides closed the gap and pressured the Nighthawk attacker.
O'Brien calmly put on a dribble move by faking to her left and driving on her right foot towards the middle of the box. With open space after deking her defender, O'Brien ripped a shot on goal. With perfect placement, the ball swung into the far side of the net inside the right post.
O'Brien jumped for joy after tallying her first goal of the season. The assists from Aronoff and McGill put UNG ahead 2-0 before halftime.
The Nighthawks maintained the lead past halftime. With an impressive performance in net by senior keeper
Isabelle Lee who recorded a career-high six saves, the Lady Flames were shut down numerous times in the second half.
However, a miscommunication defensively resulted in a penalty kick opportunity for Lee with 8:30 remaining in the game. Sides converted on the opportunity to make it a 2-1 game.
The Lady Flames continued to press the Nighthawk back line. With 3:59 to play, Lee was awarded a free kick right along the far sideline, equidistant with the edge of the box.
Senior midfielder Grace Berry took the set piece and found junior defender Isabella Valentine for a game-tying header with less than four minutes to go in the game.
Neither side was able to muster a game-winning goal in the final four minutes, resulting in a 2-2 draw.
Now UNG will prepare for its final early-season, non-conference match. On Wednesday, Sept. 17 the Nighthawks will welcome Lincoln Memorial to the UNG Soccer Field at 3 p.m. Fans in attendance will celebrate Fall Spirit Night as UNG will host a men's and women's home doubleheader.
