ATLANTA ? The Georgia State Panthers wrestled regionally-ranked James Madison to a 0-0 overtime tie using outstanding defense to slow down a club picked to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association Friday night in Panthersville.
Georgia State and James Madison exchanged blows in a defensive battle where neither side seemed to have a clear advantage. Both teams had many scoring opportunities in the box, but good defense and solid goalie play by both teams led to the tie.
“This was a well-seasoned team that knows how to win and get points and we were able to stick with them and earn a tough point with the tie,” said Georgia State head coach Domenic Martelli. “You have to play tough and ugly sometimes, but sometimes ugly gets you scoring opportunities. Unfortunately we didn't finish those opportunities, but we played our best game of the year tonight and I'm proud our girls earned a point.”
Both Georgia State (3-4-3) and James Madison (4-4-1) seemed to feel each other out in the first half, looking for opportunities to score and take advantage of weaknesses. But, neither team was able to find a weakness of the back of the net. The Dukes significantly out shot the Panthers in the first half, 8-1, but many Dukes shots posed no real threat.
In the opening minutes of the second half, the Panthers began to assert themselves offensively and started pressuring the James Madison goal, but the Dukes' defense and outstanding goal play by James Madison freshman goalie Diane Wszalek prevented any Georgia State advance.
Junior forward Nathalie Carter created four one-on-one scoring opportunities off lead passes in the second half, but had two shots sail wide, one stuffed by Wszalek and one drill the left post, sending the Panther bench joyously to their feet only to have their hearts torn out as the ball bounced away from net.
“This is an education process. We gave ourselves enough chances to score, but we have to learn to finish,” said Martelli. “We haven't scored much this year and we have to break that, but this was a well earned point.”
James Madison out shot Georgia State 17 to nine in the contest and had five more corner kicks, taking eight to State's three.
For the Panthers, Carter led the team with four shots and junior defender Paige Beyer and senior midfielder Amber Collins-Cephers each recorded two shots. Sophomore forward Kay Harbrueger recorded one shot on goal.
Goalkeepers Charlotte Vargo and Megan Macdonald conspired for their fifth shared shut out of the season. Vargo, who started the contest, recorded seven saves in 90 minutes work, while Macdonald recorded two saves in overtime.
The Panthers return to action on Sunday, Sept. 24 to face CAA powerhouse Virginia Commonwealth at 1 p.m. in Panthersville.
