BARNESVILLE, Ga. -- Gordon State Soccer stepped out of conference play for the first time this season by hosting the Spartanburg Methodist College (S.C.) Pioneers and came away with a 1-0 double overtime victory here Wednesday night.
The midseason clash proved to be a tense affair as each team looked to solve the riddle posed by their opponents.
Though both teams created multiple opportunities to score, neither could find the breakthrough during the 90 minutes of regulation as the Highlanders were pushed to overtime for the second time in their past three matches.
Early in the first overtime period, sophomore goalkeeper Becca Doyle (Acworth, Ga. / Harrison HS) made two clutch saves that kept GSC in the match.
After the Highlanders gathered their legs and beginning to put more pressure on the Pioneers, the game moved into the second and final overtime period.
The Highlanders finished the game with 4:06 remaining on the clock when Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) assists leader, freshman Madison Schmucker (Cape Coral, Fla. / Ida S. Baker HS) passed a ball to the near post where fellow freshman Bailey Arnold (Bethlehem, Ga. / Apalachee HS) fired the ball into the Pioneer goal for game-winner.
Doyle's first shutout of the season came as a result of a total team effort committed to defending well. The backline lead by three freshmen -- Aniah Rasool (Ruskin, Fla. / Lennard HS), Haley Reid (Griffin, Ga. / Spalding HS), Molly Worst (Brooks, Ga. / Whitewater HS) and sophomore Jasmine O'Hara (Hollywood, Fla. / Cooper City HS) shut the Pioneers down by minimizing their chances on goal.
The victory elevates the Highlanders overall record to 4-2 (3-2 in GCAA).
GSC will look to avenge an early season loss to South Georgia State when they travel to Douglas, Ga. on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.
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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).