Title Sport Date
Eagles Eliminated from SoCon Tournament Baseball May 26, 2013
Elon Forces If Necessary Game with 11-4 Victory Baseball May 25, 2013
Women's Soccer Coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel Resigns Women's Soccer May 25, 2013
Eagles Advance to Saturday with Ninth-Inning Rally Baseball May 24, 2013
Women's Basketball Adds a Pair of Transfers Women's Basketball May 23, 2013
Eagles Take SoCon Opener Behind Hess' Shutout Performance Baseball May 23, 2013
Men’s Basketball Set to Play in 2013 Cancun Challenge Men's Basketball May 23, 2013
Georgia Southern Athletics Announces Bishop Club Seating for Football Football May 23, 2013
It’s a Record Breaking Business Swimming & Diving May 21, 2013
Baseball Set to Hold Four Summer Camps Baseball May 21, 2013
Take Flight - Eagle Athletics This Week - May 20-26 Athletics May 20, 2013
Baseball Opens SoCon Tournament Against College of Charleston Baseball May 20, 2013
Site Preparation Begins with Scoreboard Demolition Football May 20, 2013
New Logo, Brand Identification Mark the Beginning of the Next Era for the Sun Belt Conference General Release May 20, 2013
Softball Eliminated from NCAA Tournament with 2-1 Loss in Nine Innings Softball May 19, 2013
Eagles Open the SoCon Tournament as the Seven Seed Baseball May 18, 2013
Sarah Purvis Throws Perfect Game as Eagles Advance to Face USF Softball May 18, 2013
College of Charleston Completes Sweep with Comeback Victory Baseball May 18, 2013
Eagle Golf Finishes 12th at NCAA Regional Golf May 18, 2013
Golf Succumbs to Scarlet Course in NCAA Regional Second Round Golf May 17, 2013
Eagles Clipped 1-0 by USF in Extra Innings Softball May 17, 2013
Eagles Drop Series to College of Charleston Baseball May 17, 2013
Eagles Fall to College of Charleston in Series Opener Baseball May 17, 2013
Golf Sits in Ninth after Opening Round at NCAA Regional Golf May 16, 2013
Sarah Purvis Earns NFCA All-Region Honors Softball May 16, 2013
Softball Faces USF in NCAA Tournament Opener Softball May 16, 2013
Eagles Head to Charleston for Final SoCon Series Baseball May 15, 2013
Georgia Southern Football Camps Set for June Football May 15, 2013
Mierzejewski Advances to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier Golf May 15, 2013
Baseball Falls in Final Home Game Baseball May 15, 2013
Wolfes Advances to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier Golf May 14, 2013
Eagle Fund Donations Are Due June 3 Athletics May 14, 2013
Golf Begins NCAA Championship Play Thursday Golf May 14, 2013
Swope Earns Spot on CFPA Running Back Watch List Football May 13, 2013
Baseball Hosts Final Home Game Tuesday Baseball May 13, 2013
Georgia Southern Holds Special Graduation Ceremony Athletics May 13, 2013
Tickets Now Available for Gainesville Regional Softball May 13, 2013
Eagles Open NCAA Tournament in Gainesville Regional Softball May 13, 2013
Clemson Completes Sweep of Georgia Southern Baseball May 12, 2013
Selection Show Viewing Set for 10 p.m. Inside Bishop Fieldhouse Softball May 12, 2013
Stevenson Invited Back for N.Y. Giants Rookie Camp Football May 12, 2013
Clemson Wins Series over Eagles Baseball May 12, 2013
Walk-Off Home Run Clinches Back-to-Back SoCon Championships Softball May 11, 2013
Waiting Game Begins for Eagles’ 4X100m Relay Team Track & Field May 11, 2013
Clemson Wins Series Opener Behind Strong Outing from Ace Baseball May 11, 2013
Eagles Win 11-Inning Marathon Over Cougars, Return to Title Game Softball May 10, 2013
Walk-off Single Forces "If Necessary Game" Between Cougars and Eagles Softball May 10, 2013
Georgia Southern Football 2014 Non-Conference Opponents Announced Football May 10, 2013
Georgia Southern 4X100m Relay Team Makes Last Run for Postseason Bid Track & Field May 10, 2013
Leadoff Home Run Pushes Eagles to SoCon Tournament Semifinals Softball May 9, 2013
  • Print

Emily Hirano’s Golden Overtime Goal Sends Eagles to SoCon Tournament Final

// BOX SCORE (PDF) // UPDATED STATS (PDF) //

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – The 2012 season will continue for Georgia Southern Women’s Soccer after the eighth-seeded Eagles took a 1-0 win over fifth-seeded Elon on Friday evening in the Semifinals of the SoCon Tournament. GSU out-shot the Phoenix in regulation, but scored the game-winner on a cross which was headed home by freshman Emily Hirano in the 102nd minute. GSU will make its third appearance in the SoCon Tournament Final on Sunday afternoon against Furman with the Eagles seeking their first league title in program history. The match can be seen on ESPN3.com starting from 2 p.m. (ET)

“We felt like we came out a bit nervous tonight, but that’s to be expected in a semifinal,” said head coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel. “Once we settled down and played our game, it looked much better. In the second half it felt like we could have had one or two goals go in, but in overtime I feel like we really dictated the game.”

Both teams had plenty of scoring chances, but neither team was able to find the back of the net for the first 90 minutes of the match. GSU out-shot Elon 11-4 overall and 5-3 in the shots on goal category.

With 13 minutes remaining in regulation Elon thought it had scored the go-ahead goal from the edge of the penalty area, but a foul on the Phoenix negated the goal and kept the teams level at 0-0 entering the waning minutes.

The Eagles had the final scoring chance of regulation, but for the fifth time this season, GSU went to overtime.

After a scoreless first overtime period, GSU needed just 67 seconds of the second overtime to score the winning goal. Senior Courtney Collins brought the ball forward down the wing and delivered a cross into the center of the box and Hirano’s head. The freshman headed the ball into the left side of the net for the third time this season, keeping the Eagles’ season.

“I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Elon’s team, they’ve had a great year,” said Vanderspiegel. “Now we set our sights on Sunday’s Championship Game.”

With a spot in the SoCon Tournament Final cemented, the Eagles will face Furman in the league’s championship game. GSU will start its fight for the program’s first league Championship on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. (ET) from Samford’s Track & Soccer Complex. The match can be seen live on ESPN3.com

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 Friday, 02 November 2012 20:48
The official website of
Georgia Southern University Athletics
©2013 Georgia Southern University Athletics. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Feedback