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Late Heroics Lead To 3-2 Win For Nighthawks In Opener

MORROW, Ga. – The University of North Georgia men's soccer team, spurred by a game-winning goal with less than two minutes remaining from sophomore forward Stephane Shongo, took down Francis Marion in the 16th Annual Laker Loch-In Classic Thursday evening with a thrilling 3-2 win.

MORROW, Ga. – The University of North Georgia men's soccer team, spurred by a game-winning goal with less than two minutes remaining from sophomore forward Stephane Shongo, took down Francis Marion in the 16th Annual Laker Loch-In Classic Thursday evening with a thrilling 3-2 win. 

Against a Patriots team that had won three straight matchups against the Nighthawks, head coach Anel Lilic's squad had to continuously fight off a scrappy and aggressive FMU team to pull out the victory. 

UNG kept executing as the game went on, but time and again the Patriots fired back with a response. 

In the eighth minute, freshman forward Maxwell Mitchell got the scoring started with a beautiful goal. As he received the ball just outside the 18-yard box on the near sideline, Mitchell paused and maneuvered his way back to the center of the field. The bad news for FMU was that Mitchell's right foot is pure. As the Dacula, Ga. native planted with his left, he unleashed a pristine ball that curled into the upper right corner and released a roar from the UNG bench to mark the Nighthawks' first goal of the season. 

However, barely two minutes later, the Patriots got on the board after a costly turnover in UNG's penalty box left Camilo Salazar with no one to beat but Nighthawk sophomore goalkeeper Aleksa Lukic. Salazar buried the ball to even the contest at 1-1. 

The two teams would volley for momentum through the rest of the first half, neither able to gain an edge. FMU's aggressive style resulted in a number of corner kick opportunities and forced the UNG back line to continuously make plays to keep the Patriots from scoring. 

Despite the pressure, the game remained tied into the 70th minute. That was until Mitchell found himself at the right place at the right time for his second goal of the game. 

After a foul was called on FMU, the Nighthawks had a set piece opportunity. The only issue was that the foul occurred roughly eight yards inside the far corner, leaving freshman forward Jorge Sandoval with a tricky task to thread the ball into the box with little room to spare. 

Even so, the talented Sandoval did just that and placed the ball near the front post. Waiting in the wings was Mitchell. He drove in front of the post and his defender. As he leaped, he spread both legs in order to receive the ball on his right foot. All in one motion, he turned and directed the ball sharply off his foot and into the back of the net. From the broadcast camera above midfield, Mitchell's silhouette was reminiscent of the Air Jordan logo. 

In his first collegiate varsity game, Mitchell had a brace that had given UNG the lead. While Mitchell is a freshman by athletic eligibility standards, the Mill Creek High School graduate in his second year of college. Last year, Mitchell elected not to play collegiate soccer and instead attend Georgia State where he played on the club team. 

Perhaps a representative of what this team can be this season, Mitchell is an example of Lilic's recruiting strategy; no stone unturned. Who would've guessed that an unsuspecting forward with more than a little bit of speed in his legs playing club soccer would turn into a pivotal piece in UNG's offense? Lilic would've. That's who. 

As they had already shown earlier in the game, the Patriots appear to have an innate ability to answer the bell and do so rather quickly. Just 42 seconds after Mitchell's brace, junior forward Juan Salazar Lopez tied the game up with a goal on a second attempt after an FMU corner kick. 

For the second time in the game, the Nighthawks had their momentum zapped what felt like an instant after gaining it. 

The game continued tied at 2-2. The sun set, the intensity rose. As eyes drifted towards the scoreboard and thoughts drifted towards a draw, UNG was given a free kick on the far sideline about 10 yards inside midfield. 

Junior midfielder Miguel Romero took the long range set piece. He sent a promising ball to the middle of the box just outside the six-yard box. The ball dodged a few limbs and went past the first line of bodies. Lurking behind the play was Shongo. The sophomore transfer from Life University deflected the ball into the back of the net, sending the UNG bench into a raucous. 

With under two minutes left, surely Shongo had just given his team the winner. Then everything stopped. The in-field referee ruled that Shongo was offside and the goal was to be waived off. The Nighthawks were in disbelief. They had their momentum zapped again, this time from a whistle. 

After the sideline referee on the near side had a discussion with his in-field coworker, the goal was reinstated and the Nighthawks held a 3-2 lead with less than two minutes to go. All they had to do was hold off an FMU team that had already scored twice quickly after UNG. 

The back line and Lukic held strong, cleared any opportunities that the Patriots mustered and held on for the win. For the first time since 2017, the Nighthawks are 1-0. 

It may seem small and to crown this win for more than it is would be a mistake. But it is an indication of what this team may be. Full of talent? Check. Hungry for success? Check. Tough in the face of adversity? After Thursday, check. 

Lilic said his team is going to take this season "day by day". After day one, he and his players have reason to celebrate. 

Now they'll get ready for the home opener at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park as the Nighthawks welcome Converse on Saturday, Sep. 7 at 5 p.m.

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