Women's Soccer takes 3-1 exhibition win over Georgia State
8/18/2013 9:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer
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STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern Women's Soccer took care of business on Sunday afternoon, downing Georgia State 3-1 in an unexpected home contest to close the 2013 preseason. The match, originally scheduled to be played in Atlanta, was moved to Statesboro due to bad weather in the metro area.
"For everything we are trying to do here, this is just an indication that everything we have done in the preseason has paid off," said Head Coach Brian Dunleavy. "We came out much stronger, much more tactically aware and a little less nervous in the second half. It may not count in the final standings, but it counts for us as a team."
Georgia State took the opening kickoff and needed just 35 seconds to score the opening goal of the match. Lauren Harriman posted the score by pushing home a rebounded shot by Nikki Fedele
The Eagles settled down after that, earning the equalizer in the 12th minute. Nora El-Shami opened her sophomore campaign with a curling left-footed effort from 30 yards out that sailed over the Panther goalkeeper and into the top corner of the net.
The Eagle defense firmed up through the final minutes of the first half as Georgia State was held to just one shot on goal in the opening period.
The game opened up for both teams in the second half as the Eagles capitalized off staunch defending and counterattacking chances.
Abria Allen gave the Eagles their first lead of the year when she posted a 70th minute goal from inside the penalty area. The sophomore forward gathered a misplayed ball in the danger area and hit a contested shot from the penalty spot which found the twine for a 2-1 Georgia Southern advantage.
Georgia State responded by pressing the Eagles and attempting to push forward, opening holes in their defensive third. Sydnie Van Curen opened the Eagles' final scoring opportunity by slicing the Panthers down their right flank and taking a shot from the edge of the penalty area. The attempt was saved to the far post where Alex Murphy was on hand to score the insurance goal and seal the 3-1 victory in the 90th minute.
The Eagles are just a week from the 2013 season opener with a trip to face Indiana State and Indiana next weekend. The season opener against the Sycamores in Terre Haute is set for Friday night at 7 p.m. Georgia Southern then travels to face the Hoosiers in Bloomington on Sunday, August 25th at 1 p.m.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and the "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS.
