Atlanta (October 10, 2009) The Georgia State men's soccer team (3-4-1, 1-3 CAA) received a boost from its freshmen class as three rookies tallied goals in a 3-1 victory over the visiting Drexel Dragons (5-5, 0-2 CAA) Saturday afternoon at Silverbacks Park. The Panthers won their first game in conference and has improved its record of 8-0 when scoring three or more goals in the past three seasons.
After a back-and-forth first half leading to a 1-1 halftime score, the Panthers came out attacking when in the 52nd minute freshman forward Caleb Kernan received a terrific pass from fellow freshmen Eric Lawrence and Kernan scored his second goal of the season. The goal gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead that they would never relinquish finishing off the Drexel Dragons 3-1 at the Atlanta Silverbacks field.
"This was a very exciting game for our team, after a couple of missed opportunities in our previous games I felt we really responded today with some great play. "I thought the freshmen class really stepped their games up today and Eric Lawrence made a great one touch pass to Caleb (Kernan) who finished off his second goal for the game winner, said Head Coach Kerem Daser."
Georgia State added some insurance in the 75th minute when sophomore Jacob Hamilton made a pass to freshman Gimel Gordon who blasted a shot outside the box and beat the Dragons keeper Alex Reber to make the score 3-1 Panthers. Gordon now has two goals on the season as the Panthers were challenging the Dragons keeper all afternoon.
"It was nice to see Gimel (Gordon) score his second goal of the season and I told the guys in practice this week we need to create some shots outside the box by taking chances. "I was pleased to see the guys listened to what we practiced and in turn they used it on the field today."
The victory for the Panthers marks the second win all-time against Drexel breaking a three game win streak dating back to 2005. Georgia State also runs its record to eight straight wins when scoring three or more goals going back to the 2006 season.
In the first half of play Georgia State struck first in the 19th minute when freshman Alex Vivanco passed to freshman Juan Giraldo, who kicked a rocket that tipped off the Drexel keeper's hand and into the net for the goal. Giraldo scored his first goal of the season to give the Panthers an early 1-0 lead.
Late in the first half Drexel was attacking when Georgia State keeper Vincent Foermer accidently touched the ball just outside the box, earning the Dragons a free kick. Drexel took advantage when Andrew Goldberg touch passed to Fabio Assumpcao who kicked the shot into the net to even the score at 1-1.
"I was really disappointed giving up a late goal before the half but I was pleased in how we responded in the second half, we now have to get ready to play one of the top teams in the conference in Old Dominion on Wednesday night and we look forward to the challenge."
Georgia State hopes to ride the momentum of its first conference win into next week with two more conference opponents for the Panthers starting on Wednesday night at Old Dominion. After the match on Wednesday the Panthers return home to play James Madison on Saturday Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.
