Hickory, N.C.----The third-seeded University of North Georgia Nighthawks scored a goal in each half Friday afternoon, prevailing 2-0 against sixth-seeded Wingate University in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Southeast Regional women's soccer tournament. North Georgia improves to 11-3-3 overall, advancing to the regional semifinals Sunday in Hickory. The Bulldogs end their season at 12-4-3.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-shot North Georgia 19-10
- The Bulldogs held a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal
- The Nighthawks took five of the eight corner kicks
- North Georgia was called for seven of the 11 fouls
- The regular season SAC champion Bulldogs were making their third straight NCAA Tourney appearance
- Ninth NCAA Tournament appearance all-time, fourth in the last five seasons

KEY BULLDOGS

- Manu Baptista Filipe led the 'Dogs with five shots, including two shots on goal
- Elli Polk also put two shots on frame
- Gabby Agelis also put a shot on goal
- Haley Faucette notched a pair of saves on the day

FIRST HALF

- Wingate put a shot on frame just 97 seconds in, but Baptista Filipe's shot was turned away
- Faucette made a save in the 13th minute to keep it scoreless
- Baptista Filipe and Polk put shots on target in the 15th and 18th minutes, but both were saved
- North Georgia got on the board in the 33rd minute
- Chloe Diaz scored the goal off a Darby Olive assist
- Agelis tried for the equalizer in the 44th minute but her shot was also saved
- The Nighthawks took a 1-0 lead into the second half

SECOND HALF

- UNG added to the lead four minutes into the second half
- Grace McGill scored off a Nina Lopez assist to make it 2-0
- Polk tried to cut the lead in half in the 77th minute, but her shot was turned away