Women’s Soccer Blanks Chattanooga, 5-0

// BOX SCORE // UPDATED STATS (9-23-12) //

VIDEO: Post-match interview with Coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel
VIDEO: Post-match interview with Nora El-Shami
VIDEO: Post-match interview with Courtney Collins

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern Women’s Soccer responded from a loss in the 2012 SoCon opener to hammer Chattanooga, 5-0, on Sunday afternoon at Eagle Field. Southern improves to 5-2-3 on the year with the sixth shutout of the season.

“It’s nice to have a comfortable win on Sunday,” said head coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel. “We had a hard-fought loss on Friday, but to come back with resilience and put the ball in the net is always nice. It was a good team performance all-around and we had some very good finishes.”

Despite the Eagles setting up camp in the attacking third early on, Chattanooga recorded the game’s first two shots on goal. Georgia Southern’s attacking pressure paid off in the 25th minute as Nora El-Shami scored for the third time this season. She weaved past defenders outside of the box and took the shot from 22 yards out.

On GSU’s next attack, Emily Hirano found the net for the second time this season in the 27th minute. A throw in by McKenna Storey found Alex Murphy near the end line at the edge of the 18-yard box. Murphy served the ball across the face of goal, finding the head of Hirano who delivered the ball into the net for a 2-0 GSU lead.

After the halftime break, Stephanie Gratto scored the third goal of the afternoon for the Eagles in the 61st minute. Sydnie Van Curen passed the ball to Gratto at the penalty spot with her back to goal. She made a turn and took an off-balance shot that scored her third goal of the year.

Six minutes later, Courtney Collins put her name on the scoresheet off a free kick assist from Zoe Van Gorder. The senior defender took a long-distance free kick that was saved by the UTC keeper. The rebound came to Collins and the senior delivered for her third goal of the year.

GSU’s fifth goal came in the 72nd minute from Van Curen. GSU earned a corner kick which was played in by Carlee Storey. A defensive touch pushed the ball to the top of the box where Van Curen hit the ball on the volley for her team-leading fifth goal of the year.

The five goals for the Eagles were the most scored since a 6-0 win over The Citadel on September 19, 2007.

GSU goalkeeper Katie Merson was called on to make four saves as she recorded her sixth clean sheet of the season. The Eagle offense posted 31 total shots to Chattanooga’s five.

Southern goes back on the road for their next three contests. The Eagles travel to Appalachian State on September 28th before facing Western Carolina on September 30th. GSU faces College of Charleston on October 4th before the Eagles are back at home for an October 7th match against The Citadel.

Fans can follow their Eagles at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com or receive short updates at facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics or on Google+ at gplus.to/GSAthletics.

Category: Women's Soccer

Published on Sunday, 23 September 2012 16:52