Salisbury, N.C.----The third-seeded and 22nd-ranked University of North Georgia Nighthawks and sixth-seeded Wingate University Bulldogs played to a 1-1 draw through 110 minutes of action in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional women's soccer tournament. The Nighthawks advanced, prevailing 3-1 in penalty kicks to move on to the regional semifinals. UNG moves to 14-3-4 overall, while Wingate's season ends at 14-4-2.
KEY STATS
- Wingate out-shot North Georgia 15-12
- Each team took seven shots on goal
- The Nighthawks took three of the five corner kicks
- The Bulldogs were called for 10 of the 19 fouls
KEY BULLDOGS
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Yasmin Cowley scored the Wingate goal
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Sascha Larsen notched an assist
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Haley Faucette collected six saves
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Caroline Peters took seven shots, with three shots on goal
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Brianna Ditillo added four shots, with one shot on goal
FIRST HALF
- Wingate struck first in the 21st minute
- Cowley beat the UNG keeper off a Larsen assist to make it 1-0
- Eighth goal of the season for Cowley
SECOND HALF
- North Georgia tied it in the 60th minute
- Bailey Vessell headed home a Mychael Fruits corner kick to make it 1-1
- The 'Dogs nearly won it in the final 10 seconds of regulation
- A shot from Peters from well outside the box was headed to the top of the goal, but was deflected out by the UNG keeper
FIRST OVERTIME
- Wingate took all four shots in the first overtime
- Ditillo's shot in the opening minute was saved
- Peters had a good chance a minute later off a defensive miscue, but the shot sailed just wide left
- Peters found
Angela Maino behind the defense in the 97th minute, but her shot was turned away
SECOND OVERTIME
- Neither team took a shot in the second overtime, sending it to penalty kicks
PENALTY KICKS
- Wingate's
Sydney Schnarr saved the first UNG attempt
- Cowley's attempt hit the crossbar and landed just in front of the line to keep it scoreless
- Vessell put UNG on the board, while Sierra Fowler converted after another WU miss to make it 2-0
-
Sophia Husted converted her PK to make it 2-1, while the next North Georgia attempt hit the post
- Peters was next, with her PK missing high to give the Nighthawks a chance to finish it
- Adleigh Wheeler converted to end it and send UNG to round two
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