STATESBORO, Ga. ? Georgia Southern took an early lead in the second half and never looked back winning the first exhibition game of the season 2-1 over Georgia State.
Georgia Southern scored with only two minutes left in the first half to tie the game at one goal apiece. Junior, Mark Beville (Apopka, Fla.) scored the game tying goal off a pass by senior, Julian Donaldson (Aurora, Colo.).
The men's soccer team then came out of the locker room at halftime and took a 2-1 lead early in the second half, when senior, B.J. Reine (Baton Rouge, La.) scored off an assist by freshman, Joe Madigan (Centennial, Colo.).
Georgia Southern did not surrender the lead and played strong defense the rest of the half. Senior, Jon Kinsler (Ormond Beach, Fla.), sophomore, Austin Steele (Kennesaw, Ga.), and sophomore, Stephen George (Lawrenceville, Ga.) provided strong defense and helped keep Georgia State to only one goal.
Junior, Joey Ralph (Evans, Ga.) made nine saves in the cage, helping shutout Georgia State in the second half.
Georgia State scored first with an unassisted goal by Linus Warendh, fourteen minutes into the first period, to go up 1-0.
Junior, Jon Cox (Alpharetta, Ga.) had a solid performance with three shots on goal.
Georgia Southern returns to action next Friday with a 5:00 pm exhibition match at North Georgia.
