AMERICUS, Ga. – Georgia Southwestern State University erased a two-goal deficit Saturday evening, but Flagler College scored the deciding goal in the 61st minute to escape Hurricane Field with a 3-2 victory in Peach Belt Conference women's soccer action.
The Lady Hurricanes (1-6-7, 0-4-5 PBC) entered the match needing a victory to secure a berth in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. Despite rallying to even the score early in the second half, GSW was unable to complete the comeback in its home finale.
Flagler (5-5-5, 5-2-2 PBC) struck first at 13:22 when Analena Jacob scored off an assist from Anastasia Whitehouse to give the Saints a 1-0 advantage.
The visitors doubled their lead just over four minutes later when Whitehouse found the back of the net at 17:46, converting a feed from Haley Stafford to make it 2-0.
GSW began to generate offensive pressure late in the opening half.
Zoie St. John forced Flagler goalkeeper Irina Barron Gomez into a save in the 33rd minute before breaking through less than three minutes later.
St. John cut the deficit in half at 35:19 when she leaped to meet a pass from
Taelyn Townsend, lifting her right foot to redirect the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. The goal was St. John's third of the season, second most on the team.
Flagler threatened to restore its two-goal advantage before halftime, but GSW goalkeeper
Hannah Garrett turned away attempts from Eleanora Close and Netanya Brown in the 41st and 42nd minutes.
St. John nearly pulled the Lady Hurricanes even in the closing seconds of the half, putting another shot toward the bottom-right corner that Barron Gomez stopped.
GSW carried the momentum into the second half, generating a pair of opportunities in the opening four minutes.
Charlotte Reynolds recorded an attempt in the 49th minute before St. John forced Barron Gomez into another save.
The Lady Hurricanes completed the comeback at 49:45 when
Jordin Gundin capitalized on a Flagler misplay near the top of the penalty area. With the goalkeeper caught out of position, Gundin reacted quickly to the loose ball and used her left foot to knock it into the open net, leveling the match at 2-2.
Gundin's team-leading fourth goal of the season was her third in as many matches, while Townsend collected her second assist of the evening.
GSW continued to attack following the equalizer, with
Ellie Carrington putting a shot on frame in the 55th minute that Barron Gomez turned away.
Flagler regained the lead at 60:58 when Whitehouse scored her second goal of the match off an assist from Jacob, putting the Saints back in front, 3-2.
The Lady Hurricanes continued to search for another equalizer.
Maci Dunlap sent an attempt wide in the 63rd minute before St. John tested Barron Gomez again in the 77th, but the Flagler goalkeeper made the save.
GSW earned a corner kick in the 81st minute but was unable to generate another scoring opportunity as the Saints held on for the victory.
The teams finished even with nine shots apiece and seven shots on goal each. St. John led all players with five shots, placing every attempt on frame.
Townsend finished with two assists, while Garrett played all 90 minutes in goal and recorded four saves. Barron Gomez made five saves for Flagler.
The Saints have now won 12 of the last 13 meetings between the programs. GSW's lone victory during that stretch came in the schools' previous meeting at Hurricane Field in 2024.
Saturday's loss eliminated the Lady Hurricanes from contention for a berth in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.
Next Up
GSW concludes its season Tuesday with a 5 p.m. CDT nonconference match at Tuskegee University.
