Grayson's Vernetti leads GGC soccer to Labor Day win

As of Monday, September 3, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE — Sophomore Mary Vernetti, a Grayson grad, scored a pair of goals to power the Georgia Gwinnett women’s soccer team to a 2-0 win over Bluefield College (Va.) on Monday on the Grizzly Soccer Field in Lawrenceville.

Goalkeeper Mo Gutierrez, a Dacula grad, made four saves in net as the Grizzlies’ defense pitched its first shutout of the season.

The win improved GGC’s record to 2-2 on the year, while the loss dropped the Rams to 2-1.

Vernetti capitalized on a chance 13 minutes into the game to give GGC the lead. After fellow forward Lydia Morrow’s shot was blocked by BC goalkeeper Kayla Richardson, Vernetti pounced on the rebound and slotted it home to make it 1-0.

Each team produced six first half shots as GGC maintained its 1-0 lead into the break.

The Grizzlies went on to outshoot the Rams in the second half, 15-9, and Vernetti put the game away in the 77th minute with her second score of the day.

Taking a pass from midfielder Mackenzie Bailey, Vernetti went streaking in and beat Richardson with her team-leading fifth goal on the year for the game’s final score.

“It was nice to get a good win today,” said head coach Domenic Martelli. “We played very well at times, which generated a lot of great chances. We worked on some things out there today that we hadn’t done yet. Now the project is to be more consistent, to continue to get more chances and finish them.”

The Grizzlies continue their four-game homestand with a 3 p.m. contest on Saturday, Sep. 8, against Huntingdon College on the Grizzly Soccer Field before hosting Truett-McConnell College next Wednesday night, Sep. 12, at 7 p.m.

Gwinnett Daily Post