MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - Despite heading into halftime even at 1-1, two Georgia College goals in the second half put the match out of reach as Anderson University women's soccer dropped a 3-1 decision in nonconference action Wednesday evening at Bobcat Field.
With the setback, the Trojans have dropped their last three matches after beginning the season with a two-match winning streak. The loss moves AU to 2-3 on the young season, while the Bobcats improve to 2-2-1 and currently ride a two-match winning streak.
The home side found the scoreboard first as Ashley Veilleux tallied her first goal of the season when she fired a shot passed Anderson goalkeeper Sadie Lancaster for the match's opening goal in the 11th minute. To go along with the goal, sophomore defender Allyease Schwartz recorded the assist on the goal.
Facing the early deficit, Anderson clawed itself back into the match when junior midfielder Emily Cowan found freshman Lyssa Engle who scored her first collegiate goal of her career. Engle joins Rachael Whaling, Mariana Poveda and Maddie Volz as Trojans who have scored a goal in their first season with the Black and Gold this year. For Cowan, the assist was her third for the campaign.
As the teams headed into the halftime break, GC held the advantage in the shot category at 5-3, while Anderson generated the first half's lone corner kick.
With the deadlock on the scoreboard, the Bobcats broke the draw in the 48th minute when Veilleux found the ball at her feet inside the AU box and scored passed Lancaster for the second time on the night. Teammates Lindsey Knott and Nicole Moor each tallied an assist on the goal.
GC sealed the match when Maddie Stephen netted her first goal of the season in the 83rd minute, as the Bobcats attacked deep into the AU zone. Stephen was able to find space in the box and tapped in the match's final goal.
Lancaster closed the evening with a season-high five saves, as the home side fired 12 shots in the final period. With the GC attack coming alive in the last 45 minutes, the Bobcats captured the shot category, 17-5, despite AU tying Georgia College's corner kick total with two.
Joining Engle with shots on the night were sophomores Jaclyn Kubiak, Alaina Gay, Paige Gowans-Smith and fellow freshman Volz. Volz and Engle were the only two Trojans that troubled GC goalkeeper Annie Stephens.
"The girls certainly can play with good, solid sides like Georgia College," Anderson head coach Ciaran Traquair said. "Two defensive lapses gave them changes and they took them at vital times. We scored a great goal through Lyssa (Engle) and chased the game at 2-1. We conceded late, but that shouldn't take anything away from how hard we competed and how close we came to getting a result."
Georgia College continued its recent success over the Trojans, as the Bobcats are now 3-0 against AU in their last three meetings.
Anderson looks to get back into the win column on Saturday when it jumps back into South Atlantic Conference play at Coker. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m.
