BARNESVILLE, Ga. -- Gordon State Soccer resumed their 2021 spring campaign here Saturday afternoon, but the result was not a favorable one as the Highlanders fell to South Georgia State College 2-1 on a Hawks' goal with 30 seconds remaining in this Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) contest.
This was the second consecutive game in which the Highlanders fell to a late goal, dropping a 3-2 overtime decision to Georgia Military College last Wednesday night.
The Highlanders and Hawks waged a tense battle over 90 minutes as momentum swung from one team to the other.
As the teams pressed one another during the first half, the visiting Hawks found a breakthrough in the 21st minute when Lissette Sanchez scored after a scramble in the Highlander penalty box to put SGSC ahead 1-0 at halftime.
Following the intermission, GSC began to assert its control over the game. As the Highlanders pressed the initiative, they began to probe the Hawks defense for cracks to exploit and leveled the score at 1-1 in the 66th minute.
Freshman Madison Schmucker (Cape Coral, Fla. / Ida S. Baker HS) crossed the ball into the penalty area for onrushing sophomore Gabriella Arellano (Miami, Fla. / John A. Ferguson Senior HS) to finish into the side netting.
This was Arellano's third consecutive match with a goal while Schmucker's eighth assist on the season keeps her atop the GCAA assists chart.
As the Highlanders pushed to find the goal that would put the Hawks away, they fell victim to a goal from Noelia Martinez with just 30 seconds left on the clock.
The loss drops the Highlanders overall and GCAA record to 3-2 while SGSC improves to 2-1-1, 2-0-1.
GSC will step out of conference for the first time this season when the Highlanders host Spartanburg Methodist College (S.C.) on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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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).