
Bel Air, MD – Kayla Moore became the third Garrett College goaltender to notch a shutout this season, making 17 saves last Tuesday as the Lady Lakers played Harford Community College to a 0-0 women's soccer tie.
GC (5-7-3 overall, 3-4-1 region) notched its fourth consecutive shutout and fifth in the last seven matches. Not coincidentally, the fifth-seeded Lady Lakers are 5-1-1 in their last seven matches as they prepare for Thursday's 4 p.m. NJCAA Division II Region 20 quarterfinal at fourth-seeded Carroll Community College (4-6-2, 3-3-1).
"Kayla Moore was everything I knew she could be leading into this season," said GC head coach Brandon Jackson of Moore's performance. "For the first time this season she looked completely confident – she was a wall for us in this match."
Moore's performance helped the Lady Lakers earn a draw in a match in which Harford dominated both shots on goal (17-6) and overall shots (24-8). Jackson was pleased how his squad played evenly with a Harford team that routed Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference leaders Hagerstown Community College, 5-0, and College of Southern Maryland, 6-1.
"Our back line has really clicked the past seven matches," said Jackson. "They're one of the biggest reasons for our team's success. Defense doesn't always get the recognition it deserves. I believe my entire back line are all top players in the region this season
The Lady Lakers – only in their second year of existence – open the postseason with a rematch against a Carroll team that defeated Garrett, 4-2, last month.
"I do expect our team to come out hungry and ready to compete," said Jackson, whose squad is 5-2-1 since that loss. "We are playing with house money right now and are blessed to have the opportunity to play in the postseason."