UNA’s win in its inaugural Pink Game Oct. 5 at home to Union preceded their worst loss of the season at Georgia College & State Oct. 8.

Senior Nikki Brown had a hand in all three goals Oct. 5 for the Lions as she recorded three assists.

Jennifer Osmond scored in the first half from Brown’s cross to put the Lions in the lead. Osmond’s second goal of the night came early in the second half when Brown put a through pass onto her feet.  

“Jenn’s first goal was a result of us keeping the ball wide and giving her time to get into the box,” said coach Graham Winkworth. “Her second goal was just a class move — holding off the defender and slotting it back across the goal.”

Shortly after Union had pulled a goal back, Jo Chubb put the game out of reach with a 25-yard blast that beat the Union goalkeeper before ringing off the post and into the net.  

Striker Chloe Roberts sat out with an injury against Union.  Winkworth said it shouldn’t be too serious.

Union had most of the possession during the game, but Winkworth said that’s not always a threat.

“They probably had us beat 60-40 in possession, but they were comfortable keeping it in their back four,” Winkworth said. “We defended well in the important parts of the field.”

Going forward into the conference and national tournaments, Winkworth said a team that plays like Union could be dangerous.

“We went up a goal early.which was good, but if we go down a goal to a team that possesses the ball well, we would have to change things,” Winkworth said.  “We would have to go win the ball and get it back.”

The Lions suffered their worst defeat of the season on the road Oct. 8 at Georgia College & State falling 6-1.  UNA gave up five goals in a 25-minute period during the second half, which saw a UNA equalizer disallowed and an ejection of Winkworth after a disputed call.

“We went down a goal early and decided to open things up in the second half,” Winkworth said. “We equalized early in the second half and thought we got it right.”

Georgia College went ahead again before UNA’s equalizer was called back after being deemed out of bounds by the official.

“That equalizer would have changed the game for us, and I feel like the ref got it wrong,” Winkworth said.

UNA outshot the Bobcats 20-15 but could only find the net once.

“Everything just kind of went their way today,” Winkworth said. “Our team could have started bickering amongst themselves, but they didn’t.  They stayed classy and kept their composure.”

The Lions continue their current road stretch Oct. 12 at Columbus State before continuing on to road conference matches at Shorter and Christian Brothers.

“We have a classy team; we’ll bounce back,” Winkworth said.