The GC soccer team battled in the quarterfinals of the PBC tournament on the road at Flagler College Sunday, Nov. 7. The Bobcats fought hard but ultimately fell 3-2 in their final match of the season.

Throughout the contest, the Bobcats rifled off eight shots, five of which were on goal. Every shot of the night came from the feet of senior twins Alexis and Alyssa Bergamini. Alexis fired five shots, including the first goal of the match. Alyssa had three shots, all of them on goal, as well as the lone assist of the night that resulted in the first goal.

The opening score came within the first seven minutes to put the Bobcats up 1-0. Alexis received the ball from Alyssa via a throw-in. Able to secure the ball, Alexis beat the opposing right back to the goal. With her back to the goal upon receiving the ball, the senior performed a 180-degree spin move to shoot with her dominant foot. Once she got past her defender, the only thing between the back net and the ball was the goalkeeper, who was too slow to save the shot attempt.

The exciting play marked the third time in the career of the twins that they have connected on a goal and assist. The previous connection came in GC’s recent Senior Day match against Young Harris College.

Heading into halftime, the scoreboard remained the same before the two squads combined for four goals in the second half.

“My confidence definitely went up this season,” Alexis said. “I wasn’t facing the goal, and I had the ball with my left foot, so I turned to get the ball to my dominant foot and away from the defender. I was right in front of the goal, so I knew I had to take my shot. I beat the defender, and it paid off.”

The identical duo had an impressive four years at GC, recording several goals and assists during their careers. Throughout her years in the program, Alexis notched six goals and six assists, including two game-winning goals, one of which came this season at Tusculum.

Meanwhile, Alyssa scored 15 goals and posted 11 assists in her time as a Bobcat. With those 11 assists, she made her way into the GC soccer record book, tied for fifth all-time in assists.

“The plan was to get the ball to Alexis,” Alyssa said. “I knew I had a long throw, so I was trying to get it to the box. I wanted to get the ball into Cassie for her to cross to Alexis, so she could shoot.”

Alyssa reflected on her final season as a Bobcat after her team bowed out of the postseason.

“My biggest takeaways from this season is that anything can happen and not to take anything for granted because you don’t realize how fast things come and go,” Alyssa said.

The final GC goal came off of an own-goal score by Flagler. The own-goal score was facilitated by Alyssa and fellow senior Cassie Balzano. Balzano had control of the ball and went to cross the ball to Alyssa for a shot. When Alyssa went for the goal, she hit it off the head of the Flagler defender and into the goal.

“We put up a great fight against a great team,” Balzano said. “We weren’t gonna go down without a fight, and everyone on the team fought hard.”

Balzano ended her career at GC with 34 goals and 13 assists. She made her way into the record book three different times. Her 34 goals rank her third all-time in career goals scored. Her 13 assists also put her third overall in that category. Finally, having opted into her fifth year after COVID, Balzano now holds the top slot in program history for matches played with 83 total career contests.

Five seniors played their final collegiate soccer game Sunday night. They will graduate and exit the program following a hard-fought finish to their careers. However, Alexis is staying another year to compete for a Peach Belt Conference title.

The GC soccer team finished the fall season 8-8. They will hold their heads high as they prepare for the offseason.