STATESBORO - Each team tallied a second-half goal on Sunday afternoon as host Georgia Southern and visiting Louisiana played to a 1-1 draw in Sun Belt Conference women's soccer action at Eagle Field.
The Eagles (9-4-3, 4-1-2 SBC) remained unbeaten at home with the draw, while Louisiana (5-8-1, 2-3-1 SBC) earned its first tie of the season. Georgia Southern will wrap up its 2021 regular season home schedule on Friday, October 15, hosting Coastal Carolina at 7 p.m. on Senior Night at Eagle Field.
The first half saw the Eagles with the best chance as a ball came to the foot of graduate student
Marcela Montoya in the box, but her point-blank shot was saved by Louisiana goalkeeper Libby Harper in the 25th minute. Georgia Southern would have a slight 7-6 edge in shots at halftime.
Montoya put the Eagles in front just a minute and a half into the second half. A corner kick earned by the Eagles was set up by Montoya on the far side, and Montoya's corner went directly inside the upper near post for her eighth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead for the home team.
Louisiana equalized in the 66th minute as a foul just outside the box was whistled on Georgia Southern. Anna Grassinger touched the ball to Ruthny Mathurin, who drove it into the upper 90 for her second goal of the season and the equalizer.
Both teams tested the opposing keepers in the first overtime. Louisiana's Anna Grassinger sent a header in the 92nd minute towards the far post, but the Eagles'
Michaela English was able to make the save. Georgia Southern's
Elis Nemtsov had a shot in the 96th minute saved by Harper.
"I'm a little disappointed," Georgia Southern Head Women's Soccer Coach
Chris Adams said. "Our energy and organization was fine. Our execution was not what it needed to be. We only got one goal off of a corner kick. In the run of play, to have 18 shots but only seven of them on target - we're going to have to be a bit more clinical if we're going to win games and climb the ladder. You've got to do it day in and day out. I'm pleased with our energy and effort, but not pleased with our execution, not being able to complete enough passes. And once we created the chances, we weren't making them count. A little frustrated to only get a point. I thought we needed three points with us being at home. But the silver lining is, we stayed undefeated at Eagle Field."
Georgia Southern finished the match with an 18-12 edge in shots. English made five saves in net for the Eagles, while Harper made six saves in net for the Ragin' Cajuns. Georgia Southern had a 6-5 edge in corner kicks. Louisiana was whistled for 10 fouls and three offsides, while Georgia Southern was whistled for seven fouls and five offsides.
