CUTHBERT, Ga. -- Gordon State Soccer continued its undefeated start to the 2020-21 season with an impressive 9-0 road victory over the Andrew College Tigers here Sunday afternoon.
This first trip on the road for the Highlanders saw them dominate proceedings from beginning to end in this Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) contest.
The Highlanders poured the pressure on the Tigers early, causing the hosts to commit multiple errors. In the 10th minute, an errant pass out from the Andrew goalkeeper was intercepted by freshman Sophia Kotopka (Riverview, Fla. / East Bay HS), who calmly settled the ball and placed it firmly into the back of the net to open the scoring.
Just two minutes later, freshman Madison Schmucker (Cape Coral, Fla. / Ida S. Baker HS) battled the Andrew goalkeeper to win a loose ball, which she dropped to Kotopka who expertly doubled the score.
Gordon State continued to pile on the pressure and in the 20th minute, Schmucker earned her second assist when her stinging shot was knocked down by the Tigers' goalkeeper into the path of freshman Emma Lovell (Tavernier, Fla. / Coral Shores HS), who finished from close range.
Those two assists catapult Schmucker to first in the GCAA in assists with six.
Kotopka completed her second hat-trick in three games in the 30th minute when she increased the Highlanders' lead to four.
Those three goals are enough to place her atop the goal scoring list in the GCAA with seven goals in the team's opening three games.
Freshman Sara Schultz (Villa Rica, Ga. / Alexander HS) scored her first two goals of the campaign either side of the intermission in the 45th and 51st minutes with fellow freshman and roommate Bailey Arnold (Bethlehem, Ga. / Apalachee HS) playing provider for both of them.
The second half would play out in a similar fashion as the first as the Highlanders maintained complete control of the match.
In the 58th minute, Lovell coolly finished a nice shot to the side netting.
Just seven minutes later, in the 65th minute, the roommates teamed up again when Schultz played Arnold in behind the defense from where she calmly beat the on rushing goalkeeper.
Sophomore Gabriela Arellano (Miami, Fla. / John A. Ferguson Senior HS) capped off the scoring in the 81st after an assist by Lovell.
Freshman Mallory McCarthney (Griffin, Ga. / Spalding HS) and Sophomore Becca Doyle (Acworth, Ga. / Harrison HS) spilt time in goal to earn the shutout that was facilitated by a team effort to hold Andrew without a shot during the match.
With the win, the Highlanders lead the GCAA with a 3-0 record and will look to build in their early season momentum when they host Georgia Military College on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
-GSC-
The Gordon State College Department of Athletics is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA). Gordon State College competes in NJCAA Division I in the sports of Women's Soccer (Fall), Men's Basketball (Fall/Spring), Softball (Spring) and Baseball (Spring). Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, Ga., approximately 60 miles south of Atlanta and 35 miles northwest of Macon. Gordon State College offers both two-year and four-year degree programs and believes that our Athletics program provides student-athletes with the opportunity to be successful academically, athletically and in life after their time as a Highlander. Follow GSC Athletics at www.gscathletics.com, on Facebook (@Gordon State Highlanders) and Twitter (@state_ad / GordonStateAD). You can also follow Gordon State College on Facebook (@GordonStateCollege #GSCHighlandersForward), Twitter (@GordonState) and Instagram (gordon_state).