Conte's Goal Brings FSC Back in Second Half for 1-1 Tie at Georgia College

MILLEDGEVILLE, GA – Resilient was the word Florida Southern head coach Brittany Jones would use to describe her team's play Friday night in the first of a 2-game road trip to the Peach State. Gianna Conte's 83^rd-minute goal got the Moccasins even, and senior midfielders Taylor Chitty and Taylor Cox were among the standouts as well in a 1-1, double overtime draw with Georgia College.

The first shot of the game didn't come until the 24^th minute when sophomore Delaney Riggins hit one wide following a Florida Southern corner kick, but over the final 22 minutes of the first half, the two teams combined for 10 shots, with each side taking five. The Bobcats (2-0-1) nearly scored in the 36^th minute, but sophomore center back Juliana Guida stopped a threatening shot by Ally Barys, and Ragnheidur Bjarnadottir had a follow-up attempt hit the post.

The Bobcats did take a 1-0 lead in the 39^th minute when Barys headed in a corner kick by Bjarnadottir. That was the final shot for either team in the first half, but the Moccasins (0-1-1) would end up taking 19 more in the second half and overtime.

After several good chances in the second period, the Moccasins got on the scoreboard in the 83^rd minute when Conte took a pass from sophomore Izzy Loyd up the middle and took a shot from nearly 25 yards out that bounced past goalkeeper Ashlee Graham into the lower right corner. It was the first goal of Conte's four-year career as a starting defender.

In the two overtime periods, the Moccasins outshot the Bobcats 7-3, with Riggins and freshman Kylie Harris giving the Mocs their best scoring chances, only to be denied by Graham. Harris had two shots saved in the second overtime alone, and junior Sheila Ramos had one stopped.

Graham was forced into 11 saves in the match, while sophomore Helena Norrstrom made four for Florida Southern in addition to Guida's big play in the first half.

Florida Southern will play the second game on its trip to Georgia on Sunday at 12 p.m. when it takes on Armstrong State, with that game also being played in Milledgeville.