Women’s Soccer Aces Davidson, 1-0, Earns Final Playoff Spot
10/25/2012 1:52:27 AM | Women's Soccer
VIDEO: Post-match interview with Coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel
VIDEO: Post-match interview with Goalkeeper Katie Merson
VIDEO: Post-match interview with Forward Alex Murphy
// BOX SCORE (PDF) // UPDATED STATS (PDF) //
STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern Women’s Soccer is back in the SoCon Tournament for the second-straight year thanks to a 1-0 win over Davidson on the final day of the regular season. Alex Murphy gave the Eagles the win in the 83rd minute, but GSU still needed help to reach the postseason.
After a couple of minutes, news came through that Appalachian State had defeated Western Carolina 1-0, clearing one roadblock to the postseason. The Eagles were forced to wait an additional 15 minutes for the final result from College of Charleston and The Citadel. The Cougars took the 1-0 win, eliminating the Bulldogs and sending the Eagles back to the postseason in a chorus of cheers from the team who waited for the result in the bleachers at Eagle Field.
“We feel like the playoffs are where we belong every year,” said head coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel. “We’ve certainly had some ups and downs this year, but I’m proud of our team’s effort tonight to get the win. Alex’s goal was a well struck ball from a tough angle. Normally I think we would have rather her crossed the ball, but to her credit, she felt it and it went in.”
The teams battled to hold possession for the entire contest, working the ball through the midfield all night.
In the 83rd minute, Alex Murphy got the ball on the wing, over 25 yards from the near post and just feet off the end line. The junior struck the ball high across the face of goal, fooling the Davidson goalkeeper who was defending the near post. The ball hit on the goal line and spun into the side netting for a 1-0 Georgia Southern advantage.
The Wildcats were unable to score the equalizer in the final seven minutes of the evening. The Eagles were out-shot 13-7 with the Wildcats holding a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks. Southern, however, led in the most important stat, the scoreboard by a 1-0 margin.
With the eighth seed in the SoCon Tournament secure, Georgia Southern will open the postseason on Sunday, October 28th, against UNCG. Last year the Eagles upset the then second-seeded Spartans 2-1 in the opening round. This year UNCG enters as the league’s top seed, securing a 1-0 win over GSU on October 14th.
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