DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The King University men's soccer team got off to a good start at the University of North Georgia, scoring first on Monday night. However, the Nighthawks netted a pair of second half goals to take the nonconference affair 2-1.

The Tornado (1-9-1) opened the match with a flurry of opportunities as Eli Carrasco ripped a shot that was saved in the fourth minute that was followed by a corner kick. The corner led to a header fromPeter Griffith that went just wide. In the fifth minute,Joshua Feener placed another shot on goal that was saved by Kris Alonzo, the Nighthawks keeper.

North Georgia (3-10) then brought play to the other end of the field as the took shots in each the ninth and 10th minutes, but both were saved by King goalkeeper Kari Sveinsson.

Carrasco put another shot on goal in the 18th minute before Thomas Dube broke through 36 seconds later with his second goal of the season. Dube took a pass from Eric Wilkening 30 yards out and ripped his shot into the back of the net to put King ahead.

The teams then traded scoring opportunities throughout the rest of the first half, but neither was able to score, leaving the halftime score 1-0.

It didn't take long for the Nighthawks to even the score in the second half as Eddie Hurst took a shot that went off the post in the 46th minute. He then collected the rebound and put the ball into the open net to even the match at 1-1.

North Georgia continued to pressure King as they took shot after shot over the next 25 minutes. However, only three of their 11 shots were on net, and all were turned away by Sveinsson.

The Tornado followed with a couple scoring chances in the 73rd minute as Dube sent a shot high andLuis Alonso had a shot saved to keep the game tied. Carrasco took another shot in the 83rd minute, but it was also saved by Alonzo before the Nighthawks continued their pressure.

Irving Salgado ripped a shot in the 86th minute that was saved before North Georgia broke through in the 88th minute. Daniel Bowlt had a free kick from 21 yards out, and laced his shot into the upper right 90 to give North Georgia a 2-1 lead.

King couldn't even the score to force overtime in the final two minutes as they fell to the Nighthawks 2-1.

The Nighthawks outshot King 23-17, including 17-7 in the second half while the Tornado had seven corner kicks to North Georgia's two.

"We played a great first half and could have been up by more than one," said head coach John Miglarese. "However, conceding a goal so early in the second half allows them to get back in the game. Heartbreaker...as we were the better team in spells of the game. It took a brilliant free kick to beat us. All the credit goes to the North Georgia coaching staff for getting their team regrouped at halftime. "

King has a quick turnaround as they host Union College (Ky.) on Wednesday at Parks Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

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