DAHLONEGA — Led by an incredible effort from senior defender Jessica Allen, the second-seeded University of North Georgia women's soccer team scored three goals in the final 15 minutes of play to come from behind and defeat No. 6-seed Carson-Newman, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at the UNG Soccer Complex. The victory advances UNG to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history with a record of 15-2-3.
Carson-Newman struck first in the 16th minute with a ball headed in by Heida Ragney off a Lauren Wade corner kick.
Rachel VanHorn evened the score in the 19-th stealing the ball away from an Eagles defender at the top of the box, working around the goalkeeper who had come off her line and shooting into an open net to equal the score, 1-1.
The game went to the halftime break 2-1 following another Carson-Newman goal from Magda Mosengo that was rocketed from ten yards out coming off a quick pass from Alex Brandan leaving an opportunity from just 10 yards out.
The Eagles came out of the break fighting to strengthen their one goal lead, and they did just that in the 53rd minute with a goal from Brandan coming from a failed clearance off of a rare free kick awarded to the Eagles from inside the box near the goal line.
Looking to save their season, the Nighthawks found the spark to start the epic comeback off the head of senior Jessica Allen, as the defender used a header off a perfectly placed Taylor Wagnon corner kick to pull the match back within one goal in the 75th minute.
A free kick from 35 yards out gave UNG another opportunity in the 82nd as Wagnon once again found Allen near the far post with the header giving North Georgia the equalizer, 3-3.
Nearing the final minute of play it appeared that the match might be destined for overtime but just before the one-minute warning, the VanHorn sisters connected to with Renee finding Rachel on a through ball placed at the top of the box with Rachel using a beautiful chip shot over the head of the Carson-Newman goalkeeper, Jacqueline Burns, to find the back of the net and give the Nighthawks their first lead of the match in the 89-th minute.
The UNG defense made the score stand not allowing the Eagles to get off a shot in the final minute of play.
