SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse College (3-8-2) soccer team lost a non-conference matchup against Georgia College (6-5) by the count of 7-0 on Wednesday evening at Fulp Field. The Bobcats used a barrage of goals in the first 45 to secure the victory.
Georgia College held a 23-8 advantage on shots, but the Valkyries owned a 2-0 mark in corner kicks. Mariah Rowdy took the loss after playing the first 45 in goal and allowing five goals while nabbing five saves. Ashlee Graham went the distance in the cage for GC, not allowing a goal and tallying five saves of her own.
Nicole Doolittle led the Vals with three shots, two of which were on goal, while Kayla Reeve posted two shots.
The first 10 minutes of the contest was fairly even-matched as the teams tried to feel each other out. However, Amanda Bartholomew put Georgia College ahead in the 11th minute of play when she took the ball and beat one defender and squeezed the ball just inside the post.
That lead grew to 3-0 just minutes later when Bartholomew added her second and third goals of the game on two assists from Cassie Balzano. Maddie Stephen posted an unassisted goal in the 40th minute to extend the Bobcat lead to 4-0. Bartholomew tabbed her fourth goal of the first half in the 44th minute to make the halftime score 5-0 in favor of the visitors.
Half number two started just as the first did with little to no offense from either side. However, GC scratched a goal in the 64th minute when Anya Mancinelli beat the keeper top-right to give the Bobcats a 6-0 advantage two-third of the way through the contest.
Kayla Reeve looked poised to put the Valkyries on the board in the 75th minute, but her strike from 15 banged off the crossbar and left Converse empty-handed for the moment. Cassie Balzano added a goal in the 86th minute to make the final margin of victory 7-0.
The Valkyries will return to the pitch on Saturday, October 14 as they play host to the Bobcats of Lees-McRae. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.