COLUMBUS, GA – The North Georgia women's soccer team continued their dominant play on Friday evening, scoring an early goal and holding on for a 1-0 victory over Florida Tech in the opening game of the PBC vs SSAC Invitational at the Walden Soccer Complex.

The Lady Saints run their winning streak to seven games, moving to 8-1 on the season, having not lost a game in 27 days, dating back to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of now 17th-ranked and still unbeaten Belmont Abbey. Florida Tech drops their second contest in the last three games, falling to 5-3 on the year.

North Georgia put pressure on the Panthers in the early going, sending a pair of headers on goal off a corner in the 6th minute, but a team save kept the game scoreless until the Lady Saints finally broke through in the 17th minute off another corner.

Casey Smith lined up from the corner and served another perfect ball into the box that deflected off a pair of defenders before Lauren Schenk gathered control and sent a shot inside the right post for her second goal of the year. The goal at the 16:30 mark was one of 11 first-half shots for the Lady Saints who continued to dominate the opening half.

Danielle Brannan avoided a defender in the box in the 26th minute, sending a laser shot on goal, but Florida Tech goalkeeper Mist Eliasdottir made a diving save to keep the Panthers in striking distance.

Schenk and Caroline Wallace kept constant pressure on florida Tech in the first half, tallying three shots apiece, while four other players notched shots in the opening period.

Lady Saints played their way to much of the same in the second half, keeping the ball and forcing Florida Tech to minimum offensive opportunities.

North Georgia had a pair of chances in the 77th minute as Emily Dover sent a shot that clipped the crossbar and deflected to Samantha Abrahart who fired a shot just high of the mark, but the Lady Saints would settle for the single goal and hold on for the 1-0 victory.

North Georgia continued their dominance on corner kicks, tallying eight corners to just three for the Panthers, while the Lady Saints held a 19-8 ledge in shots.

Kirsten Ross stays perfect of the year, improving to 3-0 on the season, while Eliasdottir suffered the loss, falling to 5-3 overall on the season.

The Lady Saints will have a day off before returning to action on Sunday morning in the final game of the PBC vs SSAC Invitational against 15th-ranked Florida Southern. Kickoff against the Mocs is set for 11:00 a.m. at the Walden Soccer Complex on the campus of Columbus State University.