With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 2-2-2 overall and 1-1-1 in the GSC. Shorter falls to 2-5-1 overall and 1-3 in league play. Both Union and Shorter are in their first season as affiliates of the NCAA Division II and Gulf South Conference.
Union struck early against a Shorter unit that was looking to build upon an impressive 2-1 victory at the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Thursday — the program’s first Gulf South Conference victory.
Alysson Mohl managed a one-time finish off a corner delivery from Guilherme Celli in the 16th minute for a 1-0 Union edge. Celli created yet another opportunity moments later for the guests, sending a low cross through the box and onto the foot of Guilherme Reis, who volleyed his attempt into the upper left corner of the cage to put the Bulldogs ahead 2-0 in the 19th minute.
It was more of the same from Union early in the second half. Chip Crockarell embarked on a run down the right side and found teammate Alex Pratt on the far post with a looping cross. Pratt headed home the finish just inside the framework to increase Union’s advantage to 3-0 with 46:48 remaining in the game.
The Hawks picked up the energy midway through the second stanza, but it proved to be too little, too late.
MEN’S SOCCER
Berry falls to
Washington & Jefferson
Seventeenth-ranked Berry College fell victim to a late goal by Washington & Jefferson’s Cody Peddicord as it dropped its first game of the season, 1-0, Saturday. Berry dropped to 7-1 and the Diplomats improved to 1-4-1.
Peddicord’s score came on a rebound at 83:39 and accounted for the game’s only offensive output. Brian Hanna earned the assist on the scoring play.
Berry freshman goalkeeper Logan Hill took the loss after making three saves. Washington & Jefferson keeper Jon Best earned the win and stopped seven shots.
The Vikings had 13 shots to nine for W&J. David Shaw managed three shoots and two were on goal. Both clubs took four corner kicks.
“We didn’t play particularly well in the first half of the game,” said Berry Head Coach Richard Vardy. “We had some possessions and a couple of opportunities, but overall didn’t play very aggressively when we had the ball. In the second half, we played a really good 30 minutes. We took it to them, had some chances, controlled the ball and didn’t give up many chances. They scored a breakaway goal with six minutes to go, and there’s not much we could do after that.”
In spite of the defeat, Vardy said there are some takeaways from this loss.
“We need to be more consistent with our play, particularly shooting, finishing and passing in the final area of the field. We just need to play consistently for 90 minutes,” Vardy said.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Late goal salvages
draw for Lady Hawks
Senior Brandi Greenwald scored the equalizer with just under 10 minutes to go in regulation as the Shorter women’s soccer team earned a 1-1 draw with Gulf South Conference rival Union University at Ben Brady Field on Saturday night.
Neither Shorter nor Union — two first-year Gulf South Conference affiliates in the second year of a three-year transition to NCAA Division II membership — could convert in two, sudden death overtime periods as each side had to settle for a tie. The Lady Hawks move to 2-5-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the Gulf South while the Bulldogs depart Rome with a 2-2-2 overall mark and 0-1-2 league tally.
After falling behind midway through the first half and trailing at halftime, Shorter dominated the run of play in the final 65 minutes, albeit to the tune of a hard-fought draw.
The Lady Hawks outshot Union 15-3 over the course of the second half and two overtime periods — 11-2 in the second period when Greenwald was able to come up with an equalizer that swung the momentum in Shorter’s favor.
Shorter’s Helena Farinha was played through down the middle of Union’s defense and unleashed a dipping strike that deflected off of diving Union keeper Emily Waggoner. Greenwald tracked down the rebound and smashed home the chance from two yards out to put the match on level terms at 1-all.
Shorter outshot Union 4-1 in the first overtime period, but had its best chance when Greenwald sent a ball along with the six-yard box and into the path of Aline Bez Tamiosso and a charging Kelly Crawford. Neither Tamiosso nor Crawford was able to get on the other end of the feed, however, with an empty net awaiting just feet away.
Union struck first in the opening half as a result of a Shorter giveaway in its own defensive third.
Union’s Dionna Linn intercepted a lazy pass and found Mariah Davis in the penalty area. Davis slipped her shot past Katie Stachula for a 1-0 Bulldog advantage. Union produced nine shots to Shorter’s three in the first 45 minutes, but was only able to come up with that lone tally, allowing Shorter the chance to battle back in the second half.
VOLLEYBALL
Berry downs Rhodes
Playing its second game in as many days, Berry (10-3, 4-1) defeated Rhodes (2-12, 0-4) in a Saturday afternoon SAA Conference matchup at The Cage Center. Set scores were 25-21, 25-16, 22-25 and 25-18.
Berry freshman Emily Stromberg racked up 11 kills, and junior Sarah Steffan had 10 (.833 hitting pct.). Junior Stephanie Quinn led the way with 32 assists while freshman Stephanie Steele recorded nine digs. For Rhodes Lexie Krall led all players with 14 kills, and Meagan Manfield picked up 12.
In an opening set that featured five lead changes, Berry withstood a late push by Rhodes to earn the victory, 25-21. The second set was yet another back-and-forth affair, and again Berry emerged victorious, 25-16.
But Rhodes responded in the third set in spite of a Berry rally deep in the action to claim the win, 25-22. Berry recovered from this setback with its effort in the fourth and final set, jumping ahead early to seal the match, 25-18.
“I thought we played aggressively and composed today against a Rhodes team that kept coming at us,” said Berry head coach Mika Robinson. “One of the things we have been working on this week is working hard to play smarter, and I thought we did that consistently.
“We know that conference play is going to be a battle every time we step on the floor, and our goal is to get a little bit better every day.”
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