Junior Apryl Goodwin scored the game-winner in double-overtime as Georgia State women's soccer outlasted Towson 2-1 Sunday afternoon in Panthersville, Ga.
"In the last four games we've only given up two goals and we have a win, two ties, and a loss," said Georgia State head coach Domenic Martelli. "Those results are the kind you want every weekend in the Colonial Athletic Association race."
Georgia State picks up their first conference win of the season, moving to 7-4-3 (1-3-2). Towson drops to 5-9-1 (1-5-0) with the result.
Freshman Sarah Bennett scored the first goal of the game for the Panthers, her seventh of the year, on a ball played over the top by fellow freshman Erin Hill. The assist is Hill's second of the season.
"Game in and game out [Bennett] creates opportunistic chances and a goals," said Martelli. "Her goal got us on top early, again, and that's what we were looking to do today."
The Panthers took their 1-0 lead into half, but were forced to withstand a more aggressive Towson attack for the entire second half.
"Towson pressed and we didn't stand up to the punch, giving up that goal," said Martelli. "We're such a young team, starting four freshmen and a lot of underclassmen. Virginia was the lone senior out there. At times we have even younger people on the field and it comes down to all of us needing to be smart against a team with seven seniors."
"We've played against a lot of experience. It shows how far we've come to be able to answer back and then come up with a goal in overtime."
In the 55th minute, junior Heidi Blankenship made a sliding save on a Towson header to preserve the lead. Blankenship played all 103 minutes in goal, totaling six saves.
In the 84th minute, Towson finally broke through the Georgia State defenses. The Tigers' Erica Marshall won a ball in the box in a crowd of Panther defenders and pushed a shot by Blankenship on the ground into the left side of the goal, evening the score.
With five minutes left in regulation, Towson looked to put away the victory, but once again Blankenship was there, stopping a Cheyenne Skidmore cross to a Towson striker that had found an opening in the back line.
Georgia State survived the first overtime, their third of the weekend, and put together a charge in the final period.
In the 104th minute, freshman Jocelyn Baker headed a ball in the box, finding junior Apryl Goodwin.
Goodwin gathered the pass, spinning to her left, dribbled over the penalty mark, and fired a shot over the head of the Towson goalkeeper finding the back of the net to give the Panthers the 2-1 victory on her golden goal. Goodwin's goal is her fifth of the season, equaling her career-best, set in 2008.
"Everyone that gave us minutes played well today," said Martelli. "Kaila Muecke came in and added a spark in overtime, winning some balls and getting them forward. Heidi was solid again in goal; she saved us a number of times today. It was a typical CAA knockdown, drag-out battle. We kept hanging in there, and hanging in there, and got a win."
Georgia State hosts their final two home matches of the season next weekend, dates with Northeastern and Hofstra. The Panthers take on Northeastern at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 16 and Hofstra at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 18. Live stats will be available for both games at www.GeorgiaStateSports.com.
