JONESBORO, Ark. - A 93rd minute goal lifted Arkansas State past the Georgia State women's soccer, 3-2, Sunday afternoon in Jonesboro, Ark. Stephanie Kolwicz and Ashley Nagy scored for GSU but it was not enough as the Panthers fall to 5-9-1 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
“I am really happy with how the team played,” head coach Derek Leader said after the match. “Today we came from behind twice to tie it. Stephanie Kolwicz scored a great goal and Ashley Nagy's goal was excellent. Whitney Ravan also played a great match.”
Arkansas State had the first scoring chance of the match in the 10th minute. Katey Carmichael fired a shot on goal, but GSU goalkeeper Brie Haynes was there to make the save.
The Red Wolves threatened again in the 14th minute when Haynes recorded a save on an attempt by Christine Giles. In the 21st minute, Arkansas State grabbed a 1-0 lead on Samhia Simao's fourth goal of the season. Simao beat Haynes with a free kick from just outside the 18 yard box.
Georgia State responded by creating a pair of scoring chances over the next five minutes but Arkansas State goalie Amanda Lee was there to make both saves. Alyssia Feronti tested Lee again with a shot in the 31st minute but Lee was able to make another save to protect the Red Wolves' lead.
In the 36th minute, GSU's Stephanie Kolwicz scored her second goal of the season to tie the match 1-1. Feronti found Kolwicz at the top of the box with a corner kick and Kolwicz fired her shot past Lee.
At the half, Arkansas State held the edge in shots (7-5) and both teams took three corner kicks.
In the first 10 minutes of the second half both teams went on the attack. Lee was forced to make two saves on a pair of shots by Harriman. Haynes recorded a trio of saves on shots by Simao, Loren Mitchell and Lindsay Johansen.
In the 58th minute, Arkansas State took a 2-1 lead on Simao's second goal of the game. Jordan Adams passed to Simao, who fired a shot into the top right corner from the left side of the box.
GSU tied the score 2-2 in the 70th minute when Ashley Nagy scored her fifth goal in her last three matches. Eryka Hawkins and Whitney Ravan combined to find Nagy, who was able to beat a defender and fire a shot past Lee.
“We have been putting an emphasis on finishing in practice,” Leader said about the offense's performance. “The two goals today were great and the goals on Friday night were excellent. It is a great time of year to be scoring and we hope the goals keep coming.”
Arkansas State continued to attack over the next 10 minutes, forcing Haynes to make two saves to keep the match tied 2-2. Georgia State had one final chance in the 82nd minute but Lee saved Ravan's shot.
The match was still tied after 90 minutes so the teams prepared for overtime. In the 93rd minute, Arkansas State scored on their first chance of the period to clinch a 3-2 win. Giles passed to Mitchell who was able to score her 11th goal of the season past a charging Haynes.
Georgia State's Haynes falls to 5-9-1 this season. She finished with 8 saves on 22 shots faced. Arkansas State's Lee improves to 8-5-1 and she recorded eight saves on 16 shots.
GSU will travel to face Western Kentucky on Friday, Oct. 25, in the Panthers' regular season finale. The match is set to kickoff at 7 p.m. ET in Bowling Green, Ky.
“We have been playing very well lately,” Leader said. “The last four matches the team has done everything we have asked. The results do not always go your way in soccer. We need to continue working hard.”
