UNG Men’s & Women’s Soccer News
University of North Georgia November 2, 2016
Men’s Soccer Downs USC Aiken, 3-1, to Advance to PBC Semifinal
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The No. 2-seed University of North Georgia men’s soccer team downed seventh-seeded USC Aiken, 3-1, Tuesday evening to advance to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Semifinals at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Georgia on Friday. With the win the Nighthawks improve to 10-9 on the season.
North Georgia struck first in the 29th minute with a quick pass from Chris Paul to Jordan Day to allow for a floater pass to set up the Matt Shaftoe goal just feet from the net.
The second goal of the night came in the 54th with a pass from Shaftoe into Ivan Acimovic at the top of the penalty box to allow for a shot that went through the hands and legs of USC Aiken goalkeeper, Orlando Maldovan.
The final Nighthawk goal came in the 76th minute with Shaftoe’s second of the night, a perfect through ball from Day to allow for a one-on-one battle inside the box that Shaftoe made the best of.
The lone USC Aiken goal, came off a penalty kick by Andre Simmond in the 60th minute but it would not be enough to extend the Pacer season, as they finish 4-13 on the year.
NOTES
– With the win North Georgia advances to just their second Peach Belt Conference semifinal in program history, and the first since 2008.
– The Nighthawk matchup in the PBC semifinal will be the second installment of the Battle for Blood Mountain on the season. While Young Harris will try to avenge its defeat in Dahlonega from earlier this season, the Nighthawks will look to repay the Mountain Lions from postseason losses in the previous two years.
– With the win the Nighthawks improve to their best record since 2005 when the team finished the season 10-6-2 overall. The 10-win season is just the third in the past 20 years for North Georgia and is the first under head coach Pat Parris.
STAT OF THE GAME
8 – With his two goals on the night, Matt Shaftoe moves into the leading scorer position for the Nighthawks with eight goals on the year.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will face No. 3-seed Young Harris at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Georgia in the Peach Belt Conference Semifinals, Friday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. More information on the PBC Soccer Tournament, including directions and admission prices, can be found on the Tournament Website.
Women’s Soccer Battles Out 3-2 Win Over Flagler
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The No. 3-seed University of North Georgia women’s soccer team edged out sixth-seeded Flagler, 3-2, to advance to the Peach Belt Conference semifinal at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Georgia on Friday. With the win the Nighthawks improve to 13-1-3 on the season.
Following a slow start to the game, the Nighthawks struck first in the 34th minute as Brynn Finneran served in a ball from the top corner of the box that was flicked on to Rachel VanHorn, by her sister Renee VanHorn to give North Georgia its first lead of the night, 1-0.
Flagler brought the match back to level pecking in the 58th with a goal from Kaela Harmon coming off of the deflected save of Nighthawk goalkeeper, Kaitlyn Siberski, coming off a free kick from Charlene Nowotny just outside the box.
The VanHorn sisters countered with two quick goals; Rachel blasted her second goal of the night in the upper 90 in the 67th, and Renee in the 68th minute taking advantage of a failed clearance by Flagler just in front of the net.
Flagler regained a glimmer of hope in the 71st minute with a successful penalty kick from Frida Lindblom, but it would not be enough as the Nighthawks made the 3-2 score stand to punch their ticket to Evans.
NOTES
– With the win the Nighthawks improve to 9-0-1 all-time against Flagler, the tie coming from the 1-1 draw between the two earlier in the season in St. Augustine.
– With the ticket to the semifinal punched, the Nighthawks advance to the PBC semifinals for the sixth time in the past seven years.
– With her 17th goal of the season, Rachel VanHorn moves within one goal of tying the program record for goals in a single season. Two Nighthawks have scored 18 goals in a given year with Cicely Taliaferro last achieving the feat in 2014 and Kelly Penston set the bar in 2013.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will face No. 2-seed UNC Pembroke at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Georgia in the Peach Belt Conference semifinal on Friday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. More information on the PBC Soccer Tournament, including directions and admission prices, can be found on the Tournament Website.
Leave a comment