AIKEN, S.C. – A furious second-half rally guided the University of South Carolina Aiken women's soccer team to a 5-4 victory over Georgia College Saturday afternoon on Senior Day.
The Pacers conclude the season at 4-10-1 overall and 2-7-1 in league play. The Bobcats are 10-5-3 overall and 3-4-3 against conference foes.
After falling behind 2-0 in the opening minutes, head coach
Hilary George's team battled back quickly.
USC Aiken gained possession and pushed the ball down the right side of the pitch. The Pacers had the ball near the corner and flicked it across the pitch.
Lauryn Laslie found
Gressa Olson, who hammered home the pass to make it 2-1 in the 22
nd minute of action.
Willa Olson nearly tied it at the 42:29 mark, but her shot sailed just high of the crossbar. With just 47 seconds to go in the first period, the Bobcats made it 3-1.
After an inspired halftime speech, USC Aiken came out and maintained possession. After continuing to push forward,
Amanda Raleigh found the back of the net off a pass from
Summer Ricciardi at the 59:40 mark.
The Pacers evened the match in the 62
nd minute when Raleigh flicked a pass to
Baylea Payne, who headed home the ball, making it 3-3. After a foul outside the box,
Willa Olson blasted home a curling kick in the upper 90 for a 4-3 advantage at the 63:45 mark.
George's team extended the advantage in the 75
th minute. USC Aiken gained possession and
Gressa Olson found
Willa Olson, who quickly pounded the pass past the keeper from point-blank range.
The Bobcats pulled within one with 10:57 to play. With just over three minutes to go,
Makenzie Cude punched away what would have been the tying goal, diving to her left. The play resulted in a corner kick for the visitors, but USC Aiken gained possession.
Tashiana Kwatowski was pulled from goal and went back into the field and made several outstanding plays in the second half.
Cude played the final 74 minutes between the pipes and made eight saves.
Prior to the match, seniors
Monica Armendariz,
Kaitlyn Armstrong and
Amanda Giordano were honored.