Boiling Springs, N.C. – Sophomore Jocelyn Baker and junior Lindsay Mortellaro each scored a goal to give the Georgia State women's soccer team a 2-1 road victory against Gardner-Webb on Sunday afternoon. The victory improves the Panthers to 6-2-1 as they head into conference play.

Both goals scored represent the first of the season for Baker and Mortellaro. Freshman Jewel Evans notched two assists, contributing to both points scored for the Panthers. Senior goalkeeper Heidi Blankenship and junior goalkeeper Kellianne Collins split time in goal, combining for a total of four saves on the day.

“Overall, we played very well today,” said head coach Domenic Martelli. “To finish the non-conference schedule 6-2-1, it's not as good as I would have liked but I do feel like it's as good as it could be with all the injuries our team has had to endure.”

Georgia State struck first in the 19th minute when a precise combination of passing ended with Baker firing a ball passed from Evans past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to put the Panthers ahead with a 1-0 lead.

Gardner-Webb searched for an equalizer, taking six shots in the remaining minutes of the first half, but the Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to penetrate the Panther defense and Georgia State remained on top heading into halftime.

The beginning of the second half saw great effort from both teams to get points on the board. There was back-and-forth shooting on both ends that created scoring chances including a powerful shot from Senior Apryl Goodwin that just missed by inches, hitting the side post.

After nearly 40 minutes of play in the second half, Georgia State tallied again in the 84^th minute when Mortellaro finished a cross from Evans to increase the Panther lead by two.

Gardner-Webb answered just over two minutes later with a goal off of a corner kick. Gardner-Webb's Meagan Reynolds sent a ball in from the corner that was batted around in front of the goal and eventually got booted in past Collins to put the Runnin' Bulldogs on the board, 2-1.

With just over three minutes left of play, Gardner-Webb was unable to notch the tying goal and the game came to a close with Georgia State reigning victorious, 2-1.

 “Today we played more of a complete game than we have in the last couple of games,” said Martelli. “It was a very good win against another talented non-conference team and I think it was a great way to end the first portion of our schedule. Friday's double-overtime win took a lot out of us but I think we persevered and had a great game today and that's what counts in the end.”

The Georgia State women's soccer team opens conference play on Friday, Sept. 24 when it takes on Drexel at 7 p.m. in Panthersville.