Gardarsdottir Nets Game Winner in Senior Night Victory over USC Upstate

Release from Kennesaw State Athletics:

KENNESAW, Ga. –  Alma Gardarsdottir netted her first goal of the season to lift Kennesaw State to a 1-0 victory in their regular season finale over USC Upstate on Friday night (Oct. 24) at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

With the win, the Owls (6-10-1, 3-4-0) clinched the No. 6 seed in the 2014 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament and will travel to Jacksonville, Fla., for a first round match against No. 3 seed Jacksonville on Saturday, Nov. 1.

“I was very pleased with the outcome,” said head coach Rob King. “We dominated the game, just as we have several of our games in the last couple of weeks. We have dominated chances and it was the same again tonight. Alma stepped up with a great goal, which was really fitting for her. She start off scoring goals here when we played her up front and then she spent a lot of her time in the back four and then we moved her up front again a couple of weeks ago, so I am thrilled for her.”

Prior to the match, the Owls honored Gardarsdottir and fellow seniors Nicole Calder, Iyani Hughes, Julia Nelson, Heather Joyce and Jewelia Strickland. With the win, the group collected their 40th victory of their careers at Kennesaw State.

KSU once again dominated possession throughout the first 45 minutes of play as the Owl front line pressured Upstate goalkeeper Ellen Bright from the get-go. Freshman Marit Sandtroeen looked to put away the game’s first goal on a rocket shot from just inside the 18-yard box, but Bright turned the chance away to keep the match scoreless at halftime.

Out of intermission, the Owls continued to drive forward for the go-ahead score and would break through midway through the second half. Gardarsdottir sent in her seventh career goal in the 64th minute after receiving the ball from sophomore Maggie Gaughan and finishing into the left side of the goal for the 1-0 KSU lead. It was Gaughan’s first career assist and her team-leading 11th point of the season.

While the Spartans (3-13-1, 0-6-1) pushed for the equalizer, the Owls defense held strong for the one-goal victory.

KSU outshot the Spartans 19 to seven, including a seven to one count on shots on goal. Gaughan led the way with seven shots, while redshirt-sophomore Brittney Reed tallied four.

Sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Sturdivant registered one save in the win, while Bright collected six saves. The Spartans got two shots on the night from Kenzie Major.