DAHLONEGA -– The North Georgia College & State University women’s soccer team entered Wednesday’s game as the underdog for the third time this season, and once again, they played their ranked opponent, No. 10 Columbus State University, extremely close. Much closer than their last bout with a ranked opponent as the Saints went on to tie the Cougars 0-0 through two overtime periods in Peach Belt Conference action.
The Saints, who are ranked sixth in the first NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings of the season, are now 10-3-2 for the season including a 3-3-2 mark in PBC action which currently has them fifth in the conference race. The nationally-ranked Cougars, second in the inaugural region rankings, move to 13-1-1 for the season and are now third in the league with a 6-1-1 conference record.
While neither team could find the advantage in the score column, North Georgia dominated the rate of play for much of the game. The Saints entered half time with a 6-1 advantage in shots as the normally high-shooting Saints were able to get solid looks on the goal but could just not close the deal while North Georgia’s defense was solid and took away any advantage Columbus State may have hoped for.
The second half saw much of the same but Columbus State was able to take two more shots than in the first half. North Georgia still held a 6-3 advantage in shots.
The Cougars finally found an offensive advantage in the first overtime, taking four shots to the Saints one, but the Saints remained solid and never broke.
Columbus State’s Mary Mancin made three saves on the night while Mallory Sayre recorded two saves of her own to work to the 0-0 result.
The Saints will now hit the road for a pair of key conference matches starting with a 5 p.m. bout in St. Augustine, Fla. on Saturday against Flagler College. North Georgia will then head to Greenwood, S.C. where they will take on Lander University on Wednesday.
