Gabby Cruzado, supported by Madison Schmucker (left) and Sophia Kotopka (right), breaks forward through the Andrew College defense
Posted: Oct 24, 2021
Cuthbert, GA - Gordon State Soccer closed out the regular season in impressive style with an 8-0 victory at Andrew College Sunday afternoon. The shutout means the Highlanders finished the regular season with an overall record of 9-3-2 including 10 matches in which they blanked their opponents.
Once again the Highlanders jumped out of the gates and onto the scoreboard quickly Sunday afternoon. In just the 4th minute, Gabby Cruzado (Cumming, GA / Forsyth Central HS) received a fine pass from Sophia Kotopka (Riverview, FL / East Bay HS) and slid the ball past the Tigers goalkeeper to give GSC the early lead.
Four minutes later, Haleigh Joslin (Albany, GA / Deerfield-Windsor School) passed the ball to Madison Schmucker (Cape Coral, FL / Ida S. Baker HS) who turned and fired a missile into the upper left-hand corner of the net to double the lead.
In the 17th minute, it was time for Cruzado to set up Kotopka when Cruzado pierced the Tiger's backline for Kotopka to run on to and coolly place into the net.
The Highlanders continued to pour the pressure on and in the 32nd minute Emma Lovell (Tavernier, FL / Coral Shores HS) found Alana Dove (Winston, GA / Alexander HS) for the fourth goal of the match.
With just 67 seconds left to play in the first half, Joslin collected her second assist on the night when she chipped a ball into the Tiger's penalty area for Kaylah Grammer (Barnesville, GA / Lamar County HS) to head home giving the Highlanders a 5-0 lead at the intermission.
The story of the match remained the same after the break when two minutes into the second half the Highlanders were awarded a penalty kick. Joslin stepped up to the spot and drove the ball into the top right-hand corner of the goal. That goal gave Joslin a goal and two assists on the afternoon.
The final two goals of the match came courtesy of a pair of Highlanders teaming up. In the 63rd minute Cruzado collected her second assist as she slid a ball through the Tiger defense and found Ellie Rohrbach (Hahira, GA / Lowndes County HS) who finished the Highlander's seventh goal of the day. Seven minutes later, roles were reversed when Rohrbach set up Cruzado for her second goal of the match to go along with two assists.
For GSC, Cassidy Abbott (Senoia, GA / East Coweta HS) and Mallory McCarthney (Griffin, GA / Spalding HS) each played one half of the match to earn the shutout.
The victory means the Highlanders finished GCAA play with a 6-1-1 record while only allowing one goal during the course of those eight matches.
Highlander focus will now shift to postseason play as they look to capture their fourth consecutive GCAA Championship. The first step on that journey will be played at home Wednesday Oct. 27 at 6:30 PM when GSC hosts Georgia Military College in the GCAA semifinal.
Gordon State defeated GMC in each of their two encounters during the regular season and they are seeking to repeat history from the spring when the Highlanders defeated the Bulldogs in the COVID-delayed 2020 GCAA semifinals.