COLUMBUS — Just as it had looked like the sixteenth-ranked University of North Georgia women's soccer had found a way to take down rival-Columbus State, the nation's third-ranked team scored two goals in the final 16 minutes to hand the Nighthawks a heartbreaking loss and end the team's season at 16-4-1.
The two teams battled through a scoreless first half that only saw a total of five shots, four of which were taken by North Georgia. Strong defensive play continued into the start of the second half until Madison Salters found Rachel VanHorn at the top of the box and VanHorn put a shot past the diving Columbus State keeper to get UNG on the board first in the 69th minute.
The Cougars proved their worth in crutch time finding a way to score in two of their only three attacks in the final 21 minutes of the game. Cassandra Wade was there to finish a great low cross from Chelsea Person that just barely avoided the North Georgia backline, giving CSU the equalizer in the 75th minute.
North Georgia would own the next 10 minutes of play everywhere except for the scoreboard. The Nighthawks had almost continual possession taking three shots in that span with two being just inches away from giving UNG the lead once again. An offside call on the Nighthawks in the 86th minute gave the ball to Columbus State and allowed the Cougars to make one last push towards goal.
CSU was awarded a corner kick in the next minute and Olivia Jarrell scored on a header off an original header by Shelby Rolling, barely beating out UNG keeper Mallory Sayre who was attempting to knock the ball out of the box.
VanHorn got one more crack at the goal in the 89th but her shot missed just high and the Nighthawks would not find another clean look in the final minute of play.
