JONESBORO, Ark. - Arkansas State's Aaliyah Williamson scored the match-winner in the 99th minute to give the Red Wolves a 2-1 Sun Belt Conference women's soccer overtime victory over visiting Georgia Southern on Thursday afternoon in Jonesboro.
The Red Wolves improve to 5-3-1 overall and 2-0 in the Sun Belt Conference with the win, while Georgia Southern falls to 6-4-1 overall and 1-1 in the league with the loss. The Eagles wrap up their week-long three-match swing on Sunday, taking on Little Rock at 2 p.m. on Sunday in Sun Belt Conference action.
A scoreless first half saw the Red Wolves hold an 8-5 edge in shots at the break, while both teams had two shots on goal.
Georgia Southern would strike first in the match. In the 53rd minute, a corner kick from the left side found its way to senior Olivia Durham on the far post. Durham would put it back across the box to the near post, where redshirt junior Megan Przybysz would score her second goal of the season and the one goal lead.
Arkansas State would tie the match in the 71st minute as Sarah Sodoma took a feed in the left side of the box and beat freshman Michaela English coming off her line for the equalizer. The match would stay tied at the end of regulation.
In the first overtime period, possession stayed even until a throw-in from the Eagles on the near side came into the Red Wolves' possession, and a long ball found the foot of Williamson at midfield. Williamson broke away, sprinting into the box with the ball and finishing left with one minute and 21 seconds left in the first overtime period for the golden goal.
"We started off a little slow in the first half, and seemed a little nervous," Georgia Southern Head Women's Soccer Coach Chris Adams said. "Then, I was pleased with the second-half effort, which was much better and put us out in front 1-0 off of a set piece. We simply made too many mistakes, an were playing a very strong team that is going to make you pay for those mistakes. It's a tough lesson to learn, but it will serve us well going forward. We are getting better each game out and we will work hard to fix our mistakes and not let this game beat us twice."
Arkansas State finished the match with a 25-9 edge in shots. English made six saves in net for the Eagles, while Megan McClure made four saves in net for the Red Wolves. Each team had five corner kicks, and Arkansas State was whistled for 12 fouls and two offsides, with the Eagles committing 11 fouls.
