Highlanders secure third consecutive soccer title
DOUGLAS, Ga. -- Gordon State Soccer hit the road as the third seed to face top seed South Georgia State in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association / NJCAA Region 17 championship here Wednesday afternoon and came away with a tough but impressive 2-1 victory.
The conference final served as a showdown between teams that split their season series with each team winning on the road -- SGSC with the 2-1 win at GSC on April 17 while GSC returned the favor on May 2 with a 2-0 victory.
At the 33rd minute, Lissette Sanchez gave the Hawks a brief lead with a goal to make it 1-0.
The Highlanders responded quickly, scoring in less than 60 seconds as sophomore Gabriella Arellano who fired a shot that deflected off a Hawks defender into the goal, tying the score at 1.
Sophia Kotopka and Arellano teamed up just before halftime for what proved to be the game winning goal at the 44 minute mark to take a 2-1 lead.
Becca Doyle was solid in goal for Highlanders shutting out the Hawks in the second half. With the victory, the Highlanders clinched their third consecutive GCAA championship.
SGSC's season concludes at 7-3-1. Gordon State will host Region 8 champion Eastern Florida State for the NJCAA South Atlantic District Championship Saturday May 22 at 11 a.m. ET. EFSC comes into Saturday's match with a record of 8-0-1.