Old Dominion Collects 2-1 Win Over Eagles On Sunday

Sunday, September 24

Statesboro

1 PM

Georgia Southern University

5-4-0, 0-2-0

Old Dominion

7-1-2, 2-1-0

Old Dominion

Georgia Southern

Photo by: AJ Henderson - Georgia Southern Athletics

9/24/2023 4:12:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Three goals scored in an 18-minute second-half stretch highlight the match; Eagles play Friday at App State

STATESBORO - An 18-minute second-half stretch saw all of the goals as Old Dominion edged host Georgia Southern in Sun Belt Conference women's soccer action on Sunday at Eagle Field.

The Monarchs improved to 7-1-2 overall and 2-1 in the Sun Belt with the win, while Georgia Southern falls to 5-4 overall and 0-2 in the league. The Eagles return to action on Friday, traveling to Appalachian State for a 5:30 p.m. contest in Boone.

A tightly-contested first half saw no goals between the Monarchs, who entered the week leading all of NCAA Division I in goals against average, and the Eagles. ODU had a 7-4 edge in shots at the break.

The Monarchs would open up the scoring in the second half, just three minutes and 50 seconds after the break. Riley Mullen made a run down the right side and uncorked a shot just inside the box that went into the top left corner for the 1-0 lead.

The Eagles would answer in the 56th minute. Redshirt junior Elis Nemtsov brought own a ball in the box. which she then crossed to junior Smith Cathey, who finished point blank for the equalizer. It was Cathey's team-leading fourth goal of the season and also only the third goal that Old Dominion had conceded this season.

In the 66th minute, the Monarchs would cap the scoring frenzy as a ball sent into the box hit off the back heel of ODU's Megan Watts. Watts was able to recover the ball and send a shot from the left side of the box past Georgia Southern goalkeeper Quinn Wilson high for the 2-1 advantage.

The Eagles had a last chance at an equalizer in the final minute as Meredith Pugh got onto the end of the ball at the top of the box, dribbled left and hit a shot that was saved by the Monarchs' Emily Bredek.

"Lot of credit to Old Dominion," Georgia Southern women's soccer coach Chris Adams said. "Their best player was out today, away with the Turkish national team, but they came in here, played as a team and got a result on the road. It takes a lot of character to do that. For us, we just have to execute better. We're continuing to create opportunities but more often than not, we have nothing to show for it. We've got to develop that killer instinct and start making our chances count."

ODU finished the day with a 13-11 edge in shots, although the Eagles enjoyed an 8-2 edge in corner kicks. Bredek made four saves in net for the Monarchs and Wilson had three saves for the Eagles. ODU was whistled for nine fouls, compared to three for the Eagles.