STATESBORO - Coastal Carolina tallied two early goals and held on for a 2-1 Sun Belt Conference women's soccer victory over host Georgia Southern on Thursday afternoon at Bo Pitts Field.

The Eagles (4-7-1, 1-2 SBC) fell to 0-7 in one goal matches with the loss to the Chanticleers (5-4-3, 1-1-1 SBC), who notched their first league win of the year. Georgia Southern returns to action on Sunday, traveling to Marshall to take on the Thundering Herd at 1 p.m.

In the ninth minute, a foul committed by the Eagles just outside the box set up a free kick opportunity for Coastal Carolina. Eleanor Ashton scored directly on the kick to put the Chanticleers up, 1-0.

In the 25th minute, Ashton got a second chance at a goal as she got one-on-one with Georgia Southern goalkeeper Katie Oakley. Oakley saved Ashton's shot with her right leg, but the rebound went straight to Tamlyn Parkes on the left side of the box, and Parkes scored on the rebound for the 2-0 advantage.

The Eagles thought they had an opportunity to get one back late in the first half as Addison Comer was brought down in the box and awarded a penalty, but after video review, the officials waved off the penalty and the score remained 2-0 at the break.

Georgia Southern was able to pull one back in the 84th minute. Erin Wilkins' corner kick from the left side floated all the way to the right of the box, where Kyleigh Drew sent a ball goalward that beat Chanticleer goalkeeper Aris Lamanna just underneath the crossbar to make the score 2-1. 

The Eagles' last ditch effort to draw equal in the 89th minute saw Carley Borgelt take a free kick and send a shot off the right crossbar. Drew had a follow up try but Lamanna was able to sprawl to her left and make the save.

Georgia Southern finished the match with a 16-11 edge in shots. Lamanna made seven saves in net for the Chanticleers, while Oakley made a pair of first-half saves. Quinn Wilson came in at halftime and made one second-half save. The Eagles held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks and Georgia Southern was whistled for 14 fouls and one offsides, compared to four fouls and three offsides for CCU.

"We really have to do a better job of starting games," Georgia Southern head women's soccer coach Chris Adams said. "It's become a trend to concede the first goal and we have yet to successfully complete a comeback from a deficit this season. We simply have to do a better job and it starts with me!"