LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.— Hitting the road for the first time this season, the Montreat women's soccer team stopped in Lawrenceville, Ga. for a nonconference showdown against the Georgia Gwinnett College Grizzlies, a program receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Jumping out to an early lead, the hosts never looked back as they dropped the Cavaliers' record to 1-1 with a 9-1 final score.
 
Georgia Gwinnett (2-0) wasted no time in establishing a lead during the initial half of play. The Grizzlies secured their first tally of the afternoon 3:51 into the contest, and they doubled their lead 56 seconds later.
 
Continued offensive pressure resulted in three additional GGC goals prior to the 19^th minute. While the Cavs kept the hosts off the scoresheet for the final 27 minutes of the first frame, Georgia Gwinnett still entered the break ahead 5-0.
 
Thirteen of the Grizzlies' 15 first-half shots landed on target. Meanwhile, Montreat wasn't credited with a shot attempt through 45 minutes of action. Logan White registered eight saves in net during the initial period.
 
Picking up where it left off, Georgia Gwinnett opened the second-half scoring account just 2:03 into the frame. The hosts then tacked on two more strikes as they expanded their advantage to 8-0 by the 63^rd minute.
 
Maddie Ellis notched the Cavaliers' first shot on target, and Kayla Roseman got the visitors on the scoreboard. In the 65^th minute, Madelyn Schultz guided a pass into a pocket of space near the top of the 18-yard box. Roseman stepped up and took one dribble into the area before slotting a shot past the keeper and inside the right post for her initial goal in a Montreat uniform.
 
Not to be outdone, the home side contributed once more to the scoreline before the contest's conclusion. When the match ended, the Cavs landed on the wrong side of a 9-1 final.
 
"Georgia Gwinnett is certainly going to be a team to watch this season," said head coach Kristin Eggert. "It was a good opportunity for us to learn what it takes to compete."
 
The Grizzlies ended the afternoon with more shots (30-2), shots on goal (24-2) and corner kicks (7-2) than Montreat. White finished the game with nine saves, while Anna Weissenfluh stopped six shots during the second half.
 
Montreat returns home next Saturday for its final nonconference clash of the 2024 regular season. Kickoff between the Cavaliers and the No. 9-ranked Life University Running Eagles is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Black Mountain, N.C.