MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. -- Gordon State Soccer booked its place in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Championship game for the fourth consecutive year with a 1-0 semifinal victory over Georgia Military College here Sunday afternoon.
The No. 3 seed Highlanders avenged a pair of regular season losses to the No. 2 seed Bulldogs -- a 3-2 overtime home loss and a 3-0 road loss.
GSC (7-3-0) hits the road again to face No. 1 seed South Georgia State College on Wednesday, May 19, at 4 p.m. ET for GCAA / NJCAA Region 17 title.
Here is the link to watch the match from Douglas:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOU8fvsHnifn9oxDCNitb-Q
SGSC defeated No. 4 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) by a 2-0 score on Sunday.
Sunday's semifinal was a matchup of two sides who have faced off in the GCAA final each of the last three seasons. This year, however, the teams tangled one round earlier for a right to play for the conference/NJCAA Region 17 championship.
Throughout the match, both teams were able to create chances while waging their all-to familiar battle for supremacy. Ultimately the deciding goal would come from the GCAA's leading goal scorer, freshman Sophia Kotopka (Riverview, Fla. / East Bay High School).
In the 38th minute, freshman Madison Schmucker (Cape Coral, Fla. / Ida S. Baker High School) broke behind the GMC defensive line and fired a shot that caromed off the crossbar. Kotopka was quickest to react and drove her shot off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net.
The Highlanders second consecutive shutout was a result of their resolute commitment to defending. Sophomore Becca Doyle (Acworth, Ga. / Harrison High School) collected her third clean sheet of the season, a season in which she has only conceded one goal.
GMC completes its 2021 spring season at 6-3-1.
-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).