LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- After one of the roughest matches the Scots have faced all season, they fell to the Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies 3-2 in overtime. With this loss, the Scots return to a .500 season of 7-7-1.
The game started well for the Scots after a surprise goal by Scots forward Noah Wiersema received a cross from Garrison Dale into the back corner in the fifth minute. Wiersema's goal was his third of the season.
Ian Meredith soon stepped up for the Scots with a goal in the 32nd minute. After a deflection from the keeper that played the ball right to Meredith's feet, he took the shot and scored the second and final goal for the Scots.
When the second half started, the visiting Grizzlies rallied together and came back to tie it up with two goals. Ibrahima Sissoko scored both goals in the 48th and 82nd minute. His first goal mirrored Meredith's goal off a deflection from the keeper. Sissoko's second goal was also similar to Wiersema's goal by kicking it in from a cross from Johan Sanchez.
The game soon went into overtime with the score 2-2. The Scots fought hard but Georgia Gwinnett forward Tom Butler scored the game-winning goal for the Grizzlies with 18 seconds on the clock in the first overtime. He managed to kick the ball just outside the box into the back corner to end the match.
The Grizzlies outshot the Scots 23-13 for the game. Chris Pifer squeezed off four shots with two on goal. Wiersema, Meredith, and Tyler Morrison each made two shots a piece.
Both teams fought hard to score with the foul count 15 for Georgia Gwinnett and 12 for Covenant. Both teams took hits while still trying to make shots. Scots forward David Huertas took some of the brunt of the rough play as he went down with an injury that stopped the game for several minutes. His fellow teammates carried their fallen teammate off the field.
Covenant keeper Shuler Polk made nine saves for the game. Georgia Gwinnett keeper Greg Hartley made four saves for the Grizzlies.
The Scots travel to Atlanta, Ga. for their next game on Friday October 19th against Emory University. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
