DAHLONEGA – The No. 12 University of North Georgia (UNG) women's soccer team opened its season with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Wingate at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park Thursday evening.
In front of a raucous crowd of over 500 fans dressed in blue for UNG's Blue Out Game, the Nighthawks wasted no time in getting on the score sheet.
In the 12th minute, senior forward
Bailey Oetinger dipped past the Wingate keeper after a deflected shot and rifled the ball into the back of the net to get the scoring started.
Oetinger, along with sophomore forward
Sam Cottle, was UNG's lead returning scorer from last season after tallying six goals in 2024.
After falling behind 1-0, the Bulldogs answered quickly in the 21st minute with a goal from Angela Maino.
However, the Nighthawks did not wait long to take the lead once more as junior defender
Grace McGill submitted an early candidate for goal of the year. The third-year Nighthawk received a pass in the nearside corner from senior defender
Alex Clark before nutmegging her defender, dribbling into the box and striking the ball off the far post and into the net.
McGill's first goal of the season gave UNG a 2-1 lead in the first half.
Wingate scored two straight goals before halftime with a penalty kick from Kamryn Browder and another net finder from Katie Ensalaco.
The Nighthawks entered the locker room at halftime trailing 3-2 in the rematch from the First Round of the 2024 NCAA Southeast Regional. Last season, UNG ended the Bulldogs's season with a 2-0 win in the opening round of the postseason. After 45 minutes, Wingate was in prime position for revenge.
That changed 15 minutes into the second half when sophomore midfielder
Nina Lopez found a loose ball in the attacking third. The seasoned second-year player raced forward and possessed the ball with pace as she neared the penalty box. After taking one step inside the box, Lopez snuck the ball past the keeper on the far side, tying the game at 3-3 with less than 32 minutes remaining.
After a trio of goals from Nighthawk returners, it was a newcomer that helped UNG come away with the season-opening victory.
Freshman midfielder
Sarah Woodall showed impressive determination when her first shot attempt in the 68th minute was snuffed out by Bulldogs keeper Sydney Schnarr. With Schnarr on the ground and out of the net, the ball bounced past her and Woodall chased after it. She caught up to just a few feet away from the goal line and buried a shot into the back of the net.
The Nighthawks would stave off any further offensive efforts from Wingate, making Woodall's first career goal a game winner.
Now UNG gets ready for a road showdown with UNC Pembroke. The Nighthawks will head to Pembroke, N.C. to take on the Braves this Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m.
