Bluffton, S.C. – Trailing 2-1 going into halftime, the No. 18 University of North Georgia (UNG) women's soccer team rallied behind three second-half goals to defeat USC Beaufort (USCB) 4-3 in its Peach Belt Conference (PBC) opener on Saturday afternoon.
Less than two minutes into the game, the Nighthawks (5-1) jumped out the gates to take an early advantage over USCB. With just a minute and 38 seconds ticked off the clock, Angelina Noorbehesht laced a shot from the top of the box past the keeper into the top right corner of the net for her third goal of the season to take a 1-0 lead.
UNG was able to maintain its advanage for the next 26 minutes, until the Sand Sharks started to find a rhythm. Skylar Scott was able to slot a penalty kick past Kayleigh Marreel to even up the score. USCB kept the momentum on its side, as Kate Johnson scored less than four minutes later to put the Sand Sharks in front.
Despite firing off three more shots in the remainder of the period, the Nighthawks headed to halftime facing a 2-1 deficit.
Searching for some more offense in the second half, the Nighthawks found their answer with a trio of goals through the final 45 minutes.
With 39:27 remaining, Grace McGill spotted Mady Neff speeding up the right side of the field. McGill pushed the ball to Neff, who beat her defender in a race for the ball and put a powerful strike into the bottom left corner of the goal to tie the game.
North Georgia kept things moving, this time with Neff and McGill switching places. A little over five minutes after Neff's goal, the freshman midfielder found herself in the box with a defender taped to her side. Neff wisely passed the ball off to an open McGill, who returned the favor with a goal to regain the lead.
The Nighthawks continued to put the pressure on USCB's defense, drawing contact in the box to set up a penalty kick opportunity for McGill. The Nighthawk captain connected on the penalty for her second brace of the season, as UNG doubled its lead with 21:26 left to play.
The Sand Sharks would not go down without a fight. Adriane Skelton found the back of the net to cut the lead back down to one with less than nine minutes remaining.
With the lead, North Georgia's back line stood strong for the remainder of the game, preventing USCB from another shot to find the equalizer.
In a match that saw 31 shots combined between the two teams, McGill led the attack with six, including a pair of goals and an assist. The senior from Senoia, Ga. has two braces in the last three games and has brought her season totals to five goals and five assists across six games.
Noorbehesht helped push the Nighthawks out in front first, as the sophomore forward has netted a goal in back-to-back games.
Neff continues to shine in her freshman campaign, with her goal against USCB marking her third in the last two games.
North Georgia will have a few days to prepare for its second PBC test of the season. The Nighthawks will return home to face Flagler on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 12 p.m. at the UNG Soccer Field.
