Eagles Look Strong in Exhibition Loss to Winthrop
STATESBORO, Ga. – With one week left before the start of the 2012 Georgia Southern Women’s Soccer season, the Eagles took to Eagle Field on Sunday afternoon for a friendly against Winthrop. GSU fell behind early, but equalized quickly and controlled the run of play for much of the game. Winthrop, however, scored the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute off a breakaway to take the win.
“I thought we looked good overall today,” said Head Coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel. “We held the ball well, and we looked good in the back. I think we were a little shaky on our transition play right now which is something we will need to work on as well as finishing our chances. I think we had quite a few spot-on opportunities that we didn’t find our location, so we will go back to work tomorrow.”
Winthrop’s Tori Davis gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in 43rd minute, breaking the deadlock with an open net shot from inside the six yard box.
The Eagles had an answer five minutes later off the boot of Courtney Collins. GSU won a free kick near midfield which Zoe Van Gorder played into the penalty area and the head of Emily Hirano. The freshman flicked the ball wide to an open Courtney Collins who scored past the keeper with a composed shot.
In the first five minutes of the third period, both teams had open looks on goal which went wide. Collins got free in the box first, but missed her shot wide to the left. Winthrop got a breakaway moments later on the foot of Taylor Walton. She took a shot which was saved by Katie Merson, but the rebound came back to Walton in an open position. The Winthrop striker wasted the second opportunity, missing the shot wide right.
Winthrop took the lead again with just eight minutes remaining, scoring on a breakaway. A through ball from midfield by Devin Puckett put Krystyna Freda free past the Southern defense. A touch inside the box put Freda past the keeper for Winthrop’s second goal of the afternoon.
Georgia Southern wouldn’t go away quietly in the waning minutes of the match. GSU’s best chance came in the 88th minute as Cassidy Elrod got the ball off the Winthrop defense due to a failed clearance. Her shot went straight to the keeper as Winthrop held on for the 2-1 victory.
Merson made three saves between the pipes for the Eagles working all 90 minutes in goal. The GSU offense won the possession battle and took 16 total shots, eight on goal in the match. Winthrop logged nine shots with five on target.
The 2012 regular season gets underway in just one week with the Eagles traveling to Stetson next Sunday. The match in Deland, Fla. begins at 1 p.m. Georgia Southern returns home for the 2012 home opener on Friday, August 24th against Gardner-Webb.
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- Category: Women's Soccer
- Published on Sunday, 31 December 1899 19:00
