Grigg's Header Equalizes Point Game in the Final Minutes

Waleska, GA - Reinhardt Men's Soccer had the "Never Say Die" spirit in their home opener versus Point University on Friday night under the lights at Ken White Field.  It would be sophomore fullback, Dylan Griggs, who got his head on a corner in the final two minutes of the game to bring the score to 2-2.  The game would end in a tie as the Eagles and Skyhawks both got their 2025 season underway.

Transfer goalkeeper, James Ashcroft, got the start in goal and played the whole first half and into the second half before he was subbed out for backup keeper, Andree Meza.  Ashcroft ended up with 2 saves from 4 shots on goal, and Meza ended the game with 5 saves.

The Eagles struck first early in the game on a John Simmons rebound goal that came off the crossbar and the Skyhawks keeper's hands.  Moments later, the Eagles gave up their first goal as Point equalized the game 1-1.  This all happened in the first three minutes of the first half.  Point took the 2-1 lead with about fifteen minutes left in the first half on a free kick that was centered on goal about twenty-five yards out.  The shot was a nice curve that found the edge of the goal just past the outreached arms of Ashcroft.

The game stayed locked at 2-1 in Point University's favor, and it seemed the Skyhawks would head back to West Point with an early-season win.  They had several chances to pull away in the end, but the Eagles' defense stood strong behind Meza's five saves.  Defenders Cristian Gonzalez, Connor O'Brien, Josiah Brown, Christian Anderson, and Griggs did just enough to keep Point out of the Eagles' net, giving the offense the chance it needed to tie the game.

Grigg's goal came in the eighty-eighth minute of the game when the Eagles picked up a late corner kick from the foot of Alexander Itov. It was a lift that the Eagles desperately needed and has the potential to add a spark to this early season.

The Eagles will have to clean things up as they continue to grow together.  Point controlled the ball a majority of the game and this will be a factor that Reinhardt will want to reverse. They have several tough matchups coming up, including Life University and last season's NAIA National Champion Dalton State Roadrunners.  Next up for the Eagles is a 6 pm game in Marietta versus Life University.