Senior forward Nathalie Carter's goal in the 61st minute put the Panthers up as the Georgia State women's soccer team recorded a 2-0 shutout victory against Drexel in windy conditions in Philadelphia on Friday night.
After an evenly played defensive first half, the Panthers (8-6-0, 3-4-0) took control in second stanza when Carter gathered a long bouncing pass from sophomore defender Khrystal Richmond and kicked the ball into the left upper corner.
The goal was Carter's eighth of the season, moving the Colorado native into a tie for second most in the Colonial Athletic Association, and the assist was Richmond's first since transferring to Georgia State this season.
Georgia State pushed the advantage to two when junior defender Kristen McKillop converted a penalty kick opportunity in the 77th minute. McKillop's kick, which was set up when junior forward Kara Vezza dribbled inside the 18-yard line and was leveled from behind by a Drexel (4-7-3, 0-5-2) defender, was a rifle shot that struck in the right upper 90, leaving the keeper no play on the ball.
“We did what we had to do today and scored two nice goals,” said Georgia State head coach Domenic Martelli. “Nat [Carter] got behind the ball and made a great play and McKillop's shot a beautiful, great-placed kick. This win puts us in a good position to lay it all on the table Sunday and fight for a chance to make the conference tournament.”
Playing through winds over 10 miles an hour with strong gusts as a severe storm system moved in the Philadelphia area, the teams played a scoreless first half before the Panthers' offense took control in the second frame. With a half of experience in the windy conditions, Georgia State began to pass more crisply later in the game. The Panthers' backs won a majority of head balls in the second half and the teams' midfielders controlled the middle third and produced scoring opportunities for the forwards.
“All in all, it was a tremendous team effort and everyone seems to playing together. The backs were tremendous getting the shutout and our midfield was solid,” added Martelli.
The shutout was Georgia State's fifth of the season.
Georgia State outshot Drexel 15 to 13 in the contest and took two more corner kicks, with four to two.
Individually, Vezza led the Panthers with four shots and Carter and junior forward Kay Harbrueger each recorded three. Preserving the shutout in goal was freshman keeper Heidi Blankenship, who grabbed four saves.
The Panthers return to action on Sunday when the play at Delaware at 1 p.m. Updates will posted to GeorgiaStateSports.com following the contest.
