DAVIDSON, N.C. - The host Davidson Wildcats scored a pair of goals in the final 20 minutes to erase a 1-0 deficit and pick up a 2-1 women's college soccer victory over visiting Georgia Southern on Sunday afternoon at the Alumni Soccer Stadium.
Davidson improved to 2-0 on the season with the win, while Georgia Southern fell to 0-1-1. The Eagles will open up their 2021 home slate next by hosting Jacksonville on Thursday, August 26, at 4 p.m. at Eagle Field.
Georgia Southern started off the match quickly, getting a goal in the fifth minute. Senior Taylor Regensburger brought the ball down the left side to the end line, then sent a cross in front of the net to senior Vala Kristin Theodorsdottir, who flicked the ball past Davidson starting goalkeeper Taylor O'Byrne.
Davidson substituted goalkeepers in the next minute, bringing in Mary Grace Bunch, but it was Eagle keeper Michaela English who kept it a 1-0 match into halftime by making three saves in the first half.
Georgia Southern kept the one-goal advantage until the 71st minute, when Davidson's Sophia Caruso sent a shot from the right side from about 28' out into the upper corner, tying the match at 1-all.
The Wildcats would take the lead for good in the 81st minute as Emma Nguyen's shot from just inside the top of the box, off of a pass from Shannon Lytle, beat English for the 2-1 advantage.
"We got off to a really good start," Georgia Southern Head Women's Soccer Coach Chris Adams said. "In the early part of the match, we played the way we wanted. i thought we really dictated play. But once we scored, we took the foot off the gas and let them hang around. Soccer can be a cruel game, and if you let a good team hang around long, they'll make you pay for it. Davidson had all the momentum on Senior Day and you tip your hat to them - they executed twice and we only executed once. The lesson to be learned here is that we have to develop a killer mentality, and don't be content with just one goal."
Davidson finished the match with an 8-6 edge in shots, including a 5-3 edge in shots on goal. English made three saves in net for the Eagles, while Bunch made two saves for the Wildcats. Each team had one corner kick and was whistled for offsides once. Davidson was whistled for three fouls and the Eagles were whistled for a pair.
