YHC Women’s Soccer Team claims top GPA for Fall 2010 semester

by Ethan Burch, Sports Editor
with information from wire reports

The Young Harris College women’s soccer team finished the fall semester with the highest overall team grade point average announced Monday by Director of Athletics, Randy Dunn.

The women’s soccer team earned a 3.37 team G.P.A. for the Fall 2010 semester.  In addition to their success in the classroom, the team completed its first season against four-year colleges with a winning record of 10 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties.

“These young ladies inspire me every day!” head coach Kathy Brown said. “What more could a coach ask for?”

Members of the women’s team also displayed how much pride they each take in the student aspect of the term student/athlete.

“I feel like it is well deserved. We take our game and our school work very seriously,” said sophomore Linda Lehmann.

“I am honored to be a freshman and on such a well-rounded team,” said freshman Hayden Verner. “This shows me that school is just as important as soccer.”

The women’s soccer team was not the only team to achieve success in the classroom. Women’s cross country was a very close second with a 3.28 GPA., while men’s soccer was third with a 3.17. Following the Mountain Lion men’s soccer program was softball (3.1), men’s cross country (3.09) and women’s golf (3.08).

YHC women’s soccer battles back for tie

By Ethan Burch, Sports Editor
with information from wire reports

YOUNG HARRIS– On Wed. Oct.3, it appeared that one goal, scored early in the contest, would hold the Young Harris College women’s soccer team from any chance at making the game even.

After 70 minutes of play, however, the Lady Mountain Lions would overcome that obstacle to finish the match-up with Shorter College in a 1-1 tie.

The game began with a goal scored in the first eight seconds by Shorter College’s Brandi Greenwald. The goal was scored off an assist by Rachel Wood to give Shorter (10-7-1) a 1-0 lead.

The Lady Hawks of Shorter held onto their lead all the way into the second half, but they faced a Young Harris squad that had every intention of tying the game.

In the 70th minute, YHC sophomore forward Mika Lopes started the rally by making a pass into the penalty area to sophomore Haley Holderfield. The first shot by Holderfield was stopped by Shorter goalkeeper Taylor Hays, but the ball would be returned to Holderfield off of the deflection. Her second shot found the back of the net to tie the game up at 1-1.

The score remained tied at 1 heading into overtime, and the Mountain Lions (9-5-2) nearly won the game five minutes into the extra frame as YHC junior Emily Villas missed a potential game-winning shot just left of the post, keeping the contest tied, 1-1.

Freshman goalkeeper Gabby Smith finished with five saves in goal for Young Harris, while Hays recorded eight for Shorter College.

The Lady Hawks out-shot the Mountain Lions, 18-16, but Young Harris had the overall advantage in corner kicks, 5-3.

Lady Mountain Lions rise above Lambuth

By Ethan Burch, Sports Editor
with information from wire reports

YOUNG HARRIS — On Saturday, the Lady Mountain Lions soccer team of Young Harris College earned a 2-1 victory at home over the visiting Lambuth University from Jackson, Tenn.

Junior forward Rachel Wilkes of YHC scored the game-winning goal in the 77^th minute to break a tie, giving the Lady Mountain Lions their second goal of the game to finish with a score of 2-1.

The Lady Mountain Lions (7-4-1) wasted little time in scoring first by capitalizing on an own goal in the second minute of the game.

Lambuth (3-8) battled back and tied the game in the 73^rd minute when Malissa Gallogy scored off of a pass by Pam Grega’s that soared past YHC junior goalkeeper Allie Matulia to tie the game at 1-1.

Wilkes broke the tie in the 77^th minute with a goal assisted by Kelsey Battle that was out of reach for Lambuth goalkeeper Rachel Harlass. The goal by Wilkes gave the Lady Mountain Lions a 2-1 lead.

The Mountain Lions outshot the Lady Eagles, 16-5, including 8-1 in the first half. Young Harris also led Lambuth 7-0 in corner kicks for the game.

YHC’s junior goalkeeper Allie Matulia recorded three saves, while Rachel Harlass of Lambuth had six.

The Mountain Lions return to action 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 26 at Peach Belt Conference to take on Clayton State University.

YHC women’s soccer shuts out St. Andrews

By Ethan Burch, Sports Editor
with information from wire reports

LAURINBURG, NC—On Thursday, the Young Harris College women’s soccer team notched a 3-0 victory over St. Andrews Presbyterian College to give the Lady Mountain Lions their fifth win of the season.

With the Mountain Lions (5-4-1) leading 1-0, sophomore forward Haley Holderfield recorded her first goal in the 87^th minute and added her second in the 88^th.

After the two teams played to a scoreless first half of action, YHC took a 1-0 lead in the 59^th minute as junior forward Rachel Wilkes scored a goal off of an assist by junior Emily Villas.

The Mountain Lions offense continued to press on and extended the lead with three and a half minutes remaining as Holderfield scored off an assist by sophomore Linda Lehmann to give Young Harris a 2-0 lead.

Holderfield picked up her second goal of the game on a breakaway with an assist by freshman Whitney Thomas to give the Mountain Lions the 3-0 advantage with 1:56 left.

Allie Matulia recorded four saves, while Becca Knott finished with nine saves for St. Andrews (1-9).The Mountain Lions out-shot the Lady Knights, 19-10, and had a 9-4 advantage on corner kicks.

YHC takes a week off from action and resumes play 3:00 p.m., Friday, Oct. 15 at the YHC Soccer Field against Thomas University.