ATLANTA – Georgia State's second half comeback fell short as the women's soccer team lost to South Alabama, 2-1, Thursday night at the GSU Soccer Complex. The Panthers drop 3-8-1 and 1-3 in the Sun Belt Conference, while the Jaguars improve to 10-3-2 and 3-0-1 in conference play.
Georgia State nearly took the lead in the 10th minute when the Panthers were awarded an indirect free kick inside South Alabama's 18 yard box. Ashley Nagy tapped the ball to Alyssia Feronti, who fired a shot just wide of the right post for a goal kick.
South Alabama grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute when Monique Autmon scored her second goal of the season. Lauren Allison headed the ball to Autmon, who fired a curving shot past from 18 yards out past GSU keeper Brie Haynes.
Feronti tested South Alabama goalie Melissa Drish with a free kick in the 41st minute, but Drish made the save to preserve the Jaguars' 1-0 lead. After 45 minutes, Georgia State held a slight edge in shots (7-6) and South Alabama took two more corner kicks (3-1).
The Panthers went on the attack early in the second half. In the 51st minute, Nagy got behind the Jaguar defense on a breakaway. She fired a shot on goal, but Drish made the save one-on-one. Georgia State threatened again in the 69th minute. Nagy won the ball off a Jaguar corner kick, and went on a quick counter attack. She dribbled into the attacking third, then fired a shot towards the bottom left corner. However, Drish was there for the diving save.
GSU dominated play for the majority of the second half, but it was the Jaguars who scored to extend their lead to 2-0 in the 74th minute. Clarissa Hernandez played the ball over the top to Jordan Duncan. Haynes charged but Duncan beat her to the ball. Then, Duncan was able to score into the open net.
Georgia State's Ravan received a red card in the 84th minute, forcing the Panthers to play the final six minutes with 10 players. GSU finally found the back of the net in the 86th minute on Margaret Bruemmer's first goal of the season. Feronti sent a corner kick into the box. Jordan Young headed the ball to Bruemmer, who scored with a shot over Drish's head and into the top right corner.
The Jaguars survived the final four minutes to secure 2-1 win. Georgia State's Brie Haynes gets the loss and falls to 3-8-1 this season. She recorded five saves on 11 shots faced. South Alabama's Melissa Drish earned the win to improve to 8-3-2. She finished with five saves on 13 shots.
GSU returns to the field Sunday, Oct. 13 to battle Troy at 1 p.m. ET at the GSU Soccer Complex. It is the final home match of the season for the Panthers.
