DAHLONEGA, Ga. | Young Harris men's soccer drew 3-3 on Wednesday night against the University of North Georgia.
Philip Abda and
Bjorn Jonasson scored for the Mountain Lions and
Jamie Lapsley got credit on UNG's opening own goal.
QUOTING HEAD COACH DEAN GREY:
"Unfortunately, it took 45 minutes of soccer for us to arrive at this always intense derby game. It was a great response from our guys in the second half and we now look to open conference play on Saturday using that second half momentum."
FIRST HALF:
- The Mountain Lions capitalized off an early miscue from North Georgia to score the opening goal of the match in the first three minutes. Ian Aycock booted it from the box and the initial UNG defender misplayed it back towards his own keeper. Nighthawk defender Owen Wallace and goalie Aleksa Lukic both went for the ball at the top of the box and Wallace made an error, heading it past Lukic and into the net for the own goal. YHC's Jamie Lapsley received credit for the goal.
- In the 32nd minute, Santiago Cano played a great through ball to Jorge Sandoval at the top of the box. Sandoval took a touch, laced the shot past Aycock and into the bottom left corner to tie the game at one.
- The Mountain Lions answered in the 22nd minute to break the tie and take the 2-1 lead. Filip Zander fielded the free kick and hit Sergio Llopart with a great pass down the sideline. Llopart crossed it into the box and Philip Abda headed it into the back of the net.
- North Georgia wouldn't go away and earned a corner kick late in the half. Lukovic Vukasin kept the ball in the box and played it to Angel Sagrero, who back heeled it to Owen Wallace. Wallace nailed it into the lower left corner for the equalizer.
- Late in the half, the Mountain Lions lost possession at midfield and the Nighthawks lifted the ball into their attacking third. Sandoval corralled the ball and threaded a pass to Stephane Shongo, who poked it into the corner of the net to give North Georgia the 3-2 advantage. Shongo scored just minutes after checking into the game.
- North Georgia took the 3-2 lead into the break.
SECOND HALF:
- Two minutes into the second half, Filip Zander laced a shot that was turned aside and resulted in a corner kick. Off the corner, Bjorn Jonasson got a head on the ball in the box and put it past the keeper to tie the game at three.
- North Georgia's drew a red card in the 65th minute and the Nighthawks played the rest of the match down a man.
- Young Harris had two quality chances in the final five minutes of the match. Leho Le Louarn unleashed a shot towards the lower corner and Lukic came up with a big save for North Georgia. A minute later, Kleinpenning trapped the ball at the top of the box and shot one right at Lukic. He calmly caught it for the final save of the match.
- The Battle of Blood Mountain ended in a 3-3 draw.
UP NEXT:
- Young Harris opens Conference Carolinas action in Bristol, Tennessee against King University this Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
