Highlanders Defeat Bulldogs 1-0 for GCAA / Region 17 Title
BARNESVILLE - Gordon and Georgia Military squared off for the GCAA women's soccer championship for the third consecutive year in a game where this year's championship match saw the temperature dropped 20 degrees in the two hours prior to game time with winds close to 20 mph for game time. Despite these conditions both teams battled once again for 90 minutes and in the end, Gordon repeated as region champions with a 1-0 win.
Based off their three previous games during the season, expectations were for another low scoring title match. After playing for most of the night in those cold and windy conditions, the game came down to one lone goal by the Highlanders in the first half for the 1-0 margin.
Ashley Hendrix put the Highlanders up 1-0 at the 23rd minute. Gordon State's Jersie Stephens contributed the assist.
And that was enough to give Gordon State the 2018 GCAA / Region 17 title and the right to host this year's NJCAA Southeast District Tournament Title.
Even with the loss, GMC earned a bid back to Barnesville as Region 17 runner up and this week's tournament will have Gordon, GMC along with Region 8's Eastern Florida and Region 10's Spartanburg Methodist.
Gordon State is now 16-2-2 overall and finished 10-0-2 in GCAA/Region 17 play. The 2019 NJCAA D-1 Southeast District Tournament is Nov. 7-8.