Strong Second Half Performance Not Enough for Women's Soccer
9/19/2009 12:28:00 AM | Women's Soccer
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern women's soccer team (0-7-0) exhibited a strong second half performance but fell to Mercer (3-3-1) 2-0 Friday in the home opener at Eagle Field.
The Eagles edged the Bears in corner kicks 3-1. Morgan Springer (Mandeville, La.) took the first corner kick in the 47th minute. Danae Kaimuloa (Escondido, Calif.) recorded the Eagles' second corner in the 65th minute. Springer's second corner kick led to a shot by Courtney Collins (Mason, Ohio).
Springer led the Eagles with three shots. Her first shot came in the 26th minute but sailed wide of the net. Springer's second came after a foul by Mercer in the 55th minute. Her third missed high in the 67th minute.
Mercer scored both goals in the first half. Kaelyn Horton headed in the first goal off a long free kick pass from Ali Meek in the 16th minute. Meek scored the second goal off of a deflection in the 35th minute.
The Eagles went on the attack minutes later. Collins notched one of her two shots in the 39th minute but missed wide of the net. Kyrstin Smith (Acworth, Ga.) put a shot on target in the 41st minute, but Jean Worts came up with the save.
Georgia Southern came out of halftime and continued to stay on the attack. They developed a number of interesting chances attempting to get their forwards an open shot on goal. Michelle Carlson (Melbourne, Fla.) helped in getting the offense flowing by moving the ball to the front. Carlson and Caroline Scales (Chattanooga, Tenn.) both played all 90 minutes of the match.
Smith took a high arcing shot late in the second half that looked to be a tricky save for the goalkeeper, but it was a bit too high landing on top of the net.
Friday's match also saw the return of Lauren Santos (Berwyn, Ill.) in net. Santos started the second half and blanked the Bears while recording one save.
The Eagles open conference play next weekend with road matches against Appalachian State (Sep 25) and Western Carolina (Sep 27).
