MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama notched the golden goal in the 104th minute to claim a 3-2 double overtime Sun Belt women's soccer victory over Georgia Southern on Thursday evening in Mobile, Ala.
The win concludes the Jaguars' regular season at 10-4-2 overall, 6-2-2 in the Sun Belt. Georgia Southern falls to 9-6-3 overall and 4-3-2 in the league with one match remaining - the Eagles will travel to Atlanta to take on Georgia State in a 1 p.m. matchup on Sunday.
South Alabama took the lead in the 23rd minute as Abby Jacobs uncorked a long-distance shot from outside the box that found the upper far corner for the 1-0 lead. The Jaguars looked well on their way to a tenth straight shutout win over the Eagles since Georgia Southern joined the Sun Belt in 2014.
But once again, the Eagles' proficiency on set pieces brought Georgia Southern back into the match. In the 40th minute, Megan Przybysz scored off of a corner kick by Taylor Regensburger to equalize the match at 1-all and send things all square into halftime.
Georgia Southern would take the lead just less than three minutes into the second half, this time Nora Falnes scoring off of a corner by Regensburger for the 2-1 advantage in the 48th minute. Eight of the last 10 goals for Georgia Southern have come off of set pieces.
South Alabama would equalize in the 60th minute on Monique Gray's breakaway goal, and regulation would end with the score tied at 2-all.
After a scoreless first overtime period, Sydney Ham would tally the match winner, the second time the Eagles have fallen on the road in extra time in Sun Belt play this season.
"While not the result we wanted, I'm proud of this team, and our performance tonight," Georgia Southern Head Women's Soccer Coach Chris Adams said. "We played very hard, and I thought we deserved a better result. We had our chances, but we will learn and grow from this game and be better moving forward because of it. We have to bounce back and be ready to take on Georgia State on Sunday."
The Jaguars finished the match with a 21-12 edge in shots. Michaela English made five saves in net for the Eagles, while Jaidy Campos notched four saves for the Jaguars. The Eagles enjoyed a 7-4 edge in corner kicks, while South Alabama was whistled for seven fouls, compared to six for Georgia Southern. Each team was offsides twice on the night, including one play in the ninth minute for Georgia Southern in which Faith Phillips had scored.
