Carrollton, Ga. – September 30, 2005 – The first big match of the weekend is down and West Georgia stepped up in something that hasn’t happened often this season, a close game. Sara Sohlberg scored two goals in the first half and the Braves held off a furious Harding offensive in the second for a 2-1 Gulf South Conference victory.
The first half was rather quiet for both teams early, thanks mostly to a suffocating style defense from Harding. The Lady Bisons’ Katie Rankin and Megan Hatcher blanketed Sohlberg, the nation’s leading scorer, knocking the ball out every time it came close.
But in the 36th minute, Maz Sweeney broke free at the top of the box, only to be taken down hard from behind. The official called a foul, resulting in a penalty kick. Sohlberg placed the ball over the outstretched arms of keeper Cheryl Dovichak for the Braves’ first goal of the day.
Goal No. 2 came just four minutes later as both the Braves and Lady Bisons were tangled together at the top of the box. Sohlberg found an opening and took it, blasting a shot into the top right corner for a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
After the half, Harding went on the offensive, pressing deep in UWG territory early in the period. In the 54th minute, Hilary Rosenbaum found Kendyl Washburn on a cross. Washburn’s kick wasn’t hard, but it was hard enough to get past UWG keeper Lauren Camp to make the game very close at 2-1.
The two teams played in the middle of the field for the next 39 minutes before Harding went on another offensive.
With just over a minute remaining, Lynsey Clissold took a corner kick from the left corner. The ball sailed into the box, but UWG defender Crystal Forde came sliding through the middle of two Harding players to play the ball out and seal West Georgia’s eighth win of the season.
The Braves move to 8-2 on the season and 2-0 in the GSC, while Harding is now 4-5-1 and 1-1 in GSC action. West Georgia faces Central Arkansas on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.