MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Kayla Emerson
punched in a 40th minute goal in support of a seven-save shutout by
netminder Kristen Moore as Georgia College handed visiting UNCP its
first loss of the season with a 1-0 victory over the Lady Braves
Saturday evening at Bobcat Field.
The loss marked the first of the season for UNCP (5-1-0, 0-1-0
PBC)) who fell to 1-4-1 in Peach Belt Conference openers with the
setback. The Lady Braves got three shots apiece from Alex McManus,
Ashley McManus and Lefke Boysen to provide the offensive highlights
for the visitors, with goalkeeper Whitney Beverly recording four
saves.
Emerson provided the only offensive highlight on the night for
the Lady Bobcats (4-1-0, 1-0-0), with Kelli McLane picking up her
second assist of the season.
“It was a very close game that could probably have gone
either way,” said UNCP head coach Lars
Andersson. “I thought they had the better of the play in
the first half, but I thought we took over after that. We just were
unable to capitalize on our opportunities. I give Georgia College a
lot of credit because they played a very good game, but I would
like to see them again in the Peach Belt Tournament to see if we
could get a different result.”
UNCP recorded nine of the 15 first half shots, including five
over a three-minute stretch midway through the period, but could
not get off the mark. A back and forth battle throughout the
opening minutes, the Lady Bobcats finally broke the deadlock at the
39:57 mark when Emerson redirected McLane's corner kick for
the contest's only goal.
Georgia College tallied the first four shots of the second half,
but amassed just three over the final 36 minutes of the game as the
Lady Braves took control. The Black and Gold would record four of
their seven shots on goal in the later period but, each time, Moore
sent the visitors away wanting.
The Lady Braves will be back in action on Wednesday when the
club welcomes 16th-ranked Armstrong Atlantic (4-1-1, 1-0-0) to
Varsity Grounds for a matinee tilt. Kickoff has been set for 5 p.m.
and admission to all 2007 UNCP soccer home games is free.
