GAFFNEY, S.C. – The No. 24 University of North Georgia women's soccer team basked in the glory of freshman forward Blanca Cruz's coming out party in a 2-0 win against Limestone Sunday afternoon. 

Cruz, a true freshman from Snellville, Ga., played only nine minutes in the season-opening win against UNC Pembroke. On Sunday, she entered the game for the first time in the 24th minute. Just five minutes later, the young forward received the ball from senior forward Adleigh Wheeler and netted the first goal of her collegiate career. 

Cruz made the short trip north to Dahlonega after an outstanding career at Shiloh High School. As a junior, she totaled an outstanding 37 goals and nine assists which earned her a spot on the Georgia High School Soccer 6A All-State First Team. She was also named the Gwinnett Goal Club's Class 6A Player of the Year as a junior. In her four-year career, Cruz scored over 100 goals and had over 30 assists.

Sunday proved how Cruz is perhaps the latest example of a newcomer providing a significant role in the 2024 version of the UNG women's soccer program. Her first career goal broke open the scoreboard and put the Nighthawks in front 1-0 on the road. 

UNG continued to apply pressure in the attacking third as the first half came to a close. While it  was unable to add any goals in the first half, the Nighthawks were decisively in control heading into the locker room. 

Cruz's efforts in the first half were rewarded as she was on the field to start the second half. Head coach Kayley Ralton's decision to leave Cruz in the game out of halftime paid dividends minutes later. 

Cruz accepted the ball from senior forward Darby Olive before netting her second goal of the game to give herself the brace and her team a 2-0 advantage. Cruz's brace is the first for a UNG freshman since Katey Derkay back on Nov. 2, 2019. 

In a game in which UNG led in shots (13-3), shots on goal (7-2) and corner kicks (7-0), a 2-0 lead was a decisive stranglehold that would be enough to seal the second victory of the season. 

Now the Nighthawks will return home to participate in the latest installation of a storied rivalry with Young Harris. UNG will welcome the Mountain Lions to the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park next Wednesday, Sep. 11 at 4:30 p.m.