Heampstead, N.Y. – The Georgia State University women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to Hofstra University on a last-minute goal in the first half of one of the Panthers' best performances of the season Friday night in Heampstead, N.Y.

Hofstra scored the game-winning goal in the 45th minute when sophomore midfielder Sara Gulley struck from close range off a lose ball in front of the Panther net.

“It was frustrating for the effort the team put into the game to not be rewarded with the win and to give up that goal with only 45 seconds left in the half was unfortunate,” said Georgia State head coach Domenic Martelli. “This was one of our best games all year and the hardest fought loss any of my Georgia State teams have had. To not have come out with a better result is really just unfortunate.”

Hofstra (7-5-1, 3-2-0) struck first in the contest when freshman forward Jill Lipari pushed the ball in net from three yards out off a Marie Curtin corner kick in the ninth minute.

Georgia State (3-8-3, 0-4-1) responded a minute later when Amber Collins-Cephers led Tenisha Cohen to an open spot ten yards from the goal where the senior forward rifled the ball into the upper left corner to tie the game, 1-1. The goal was Cohen's first of the season. But, Hofstra responded to take the lead on Gulley's goal in the last minute of the half.

In the second half the Panthers employed a new scheme, playing four forwards, three midfielders and three defensive backs. The change allowed the Panthers to push more on offense, resulting in seven second-half shots, three more than their opponents and four more than they had in the first half.

Despite the added offense, Georgia State failed to score as they fought a driving wind in New York.

“The four forwards in the second half worked well, but we weren't able to get the goal we needed. We played 45 good minutes in the second half and every player in the game played well, but we didn't get the result we wanted,” said Martelli.

The Panthers were out shot by their opponents, 11- 10, in the contest, but posted one more shot on goal, with six to five.

Georgia State was led offensively by sophomore forward Kay Harbrueger who took four shots, with three on goal. Cohen recorded three shots in the contest and Collins-Cephers tallied two.

Hofstra has won 11-straight games at home. The Pride had not surrendered a goal in conference play in eight-straight games until Cohen scored.

The Panthers return to action on Sunday, October 8, when the play CAA foe Northeastern University at 1 p.m. in Boston.