Women’s soccer kicks it up a notch

By Brandon Barber
Sports Editor

The women's soccer team improved to 9-2 overall, 2-1 in the Peach Belt Conference, by defeating North Georgia College and State by a 6-1 score on Oct. 1.

Six different players scored a goal, three of them also contributed with assists.

Photo by Carol Franch The women’s soccer team picked up their ninth win of the year by defeating North Georgia College and State.

The team has won two consecutive games, after losing two out of three near the end of September. They have also scored 15 goals over their last two games, which is the highest output over a two-game period this season.

It took the Lady Braves nearly the entire first half to get on the scoreboard, which happened when Kelly Jones scored off an assist by Nisa Akins in the 34th minute. However, after the first goal was on the board, the scoring came frequently.

Seven minutes later, Akins stepped into the role of scorer with an unassisted goal, giving UNCP a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

Just over one minute into the second half, Ashley McManus increased the lead with a goal, her first of the year.

Melanie Cobb scored her team-leading 10th goal of the year in the 53rd minute. It was the third goal Cobb has scored over the last two games for the Lady Braves.

Sarah Day put the Lady Braves up by five with a goal in the 60th minute. Jones tallied the assist on the play.

The last goal of the night for the Lady Braves came in the 78th minute when Erin Rowley scored on an assist by McManus.

"The win was a total team effort with every player getting important minutes," head coach Lars Andersson said.

North Georgia avoided the shutout by netting a goal in the 79th minute. Kelly Orear put the point on the board with an unassisted goal.

The loss dropped North Georgia to 0-8 on the year.

The Lady Braves had their highest offensive output of the year on Sept. 27, when they scored nine goals in a shutout of Methodist.

Cobb, Day and Katie Stokes each scored two goals in the game, while Jones, Nina Ratzkowski and Akins each contributed one.

It was the fourth shutout of the year for UNCP.

The Lady Braves will be in action again on Oct. 8, when USC Upstate visits the Belk Athletic Complex.