Highlanders Advance to GCAA Finals

Gordon State 5, GA Military 1

The Highlanders celebrate Livi O'Steen's goal, the first in the five goal rout
The Highlanders celebrate Livi O'Steen's goal, the first in the five goal rout
October 27, 2021
Barnesville, GA - Gordon State Soccer began their postseason campaign with a dominating victory over the visiting Georgia Military Bulldogs Tuesday night.
 
The Highlanders have made a habit of starting quickly and putting their opponents in a deficit this season. Tuesday night was no exception when just six minutes into the game Livi O'Steen (Meansville, GA / Pike County HS) chose a great time to score her first goal in GSC colors when she cleaned up a rebound off of a shot by Sara Schultz (Villa Rica / Alexander HS).
 
Just two minutes later Schultz collected her second assist of the night when she slipped a pass through the Bulldog's defense for Gabby Cruzado (Cumming, GA / Forsyth Central) to double the Highlander's lead. 
 
From that point on the Highlanders were in complete control of the match. Ninety seconds before the halftime break, Emma Lovell (Tavernier, FL / Coral Shores HS) received a pass from Aniah Rasool (Ruskin, FL / Lennard HS) then chipped the goalkeeper to extend the lead to three. 
 
GSC showed no signs of letting off the gas pedal when six minutes into the second half Kira Goodwin (Middleburg, FL / Oakleaf HS) sent a ball into the final third for Cruzado to run onto and rocket the ball through the goalkeeper's hands and into the net to complete her brace. 
 
In the 69th minute Goodwin used a short corner kick to set up Lourdes Tompkins (Stephens, GA / Oglethorpe County HS) who curled a beautiful ball over the keeper and into the side netting. 
 
Two minutes later the Bulldogs scored a consolation goal from a free kick to bring the final score to 5-1. 
 
The victory was the Highlander's third defeat of GMC this season. With it comes a spot in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Region 17 Final this coming Saturday in Douglas, GA. GSC will travel to face South Georgia State for the second season in a row. The Highlanders (10-3-2 overall, 7-1-1 in conference) will look to duplicate their defeat of the Hawks and earn their fourth consecutive GCAA trophy.