ATLANTA – Amiri Abraham scored two goals as the Georgia State men's soccer team defeated No. 9 ranked Furman, 2-0, Wednesday night at the GSU Soccer Complex. This was GSU's first win over a top 10 team since 2001. The Panthers improve to 6-7-1 while the Paladins slip to 10-2-2. GSU had fought to a tie with No. 6 Washington earlier this season.
“I think the game spoke for itself because the guys came out and performed,” head coach Brett Surrency said after the win. “We have known that this type of play is in us but we have to be more consistent. Tonight was probably the two best halves we have played all year. We were ready to play, we were focused and the result proved that.”
Georgia State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute on the game's first scoring chance. Stephen McGill played a long pass over the Paladin defense to Abraham, who was able to control the ball. Then, Abraham dribbled around charging Furman goalkeeper Sven Lissek and slotted the ball into the empty net.
The Paladins threatened in the 31st minute when Tony Santibanez fired a shot on goal. However, GSU goalie CJ Cochran was there to make the save to protect the Panther lead. Georgia State nearly doubled its lead in the 37th minute but Lissek made a diving save on Aaron Jones' free kick. In the 42nd minute, Jones fired another free kick on target, but Lissek was made the save by pushing the ball over the crossbar.
At the half, GSU held the edge in shots (4-2) and took all four corner kicks.
Three minutes into the second half the Panthers threatened again when Andy Anglade got loose on a breakaway. After receiving a pass from Jamal Keene, Anglade fired a low shot on goal, but Lissek was able to make a kick save to keep the GSU lead at 1-0.
In the 70th minute, Caleb Kernan nearly found the back of the net with a header over Lissek's head. However, another Furman defender was there to head the ball out of play for a Georgia State corner kick.
The Panthers extended their lead to 2-0 when Abraham scored his second goal of the match in the 86th minute. Andrew Weber played a cross to the far post from the right side and Abraham out-jumped a Paladin defender to head the ball into the back of the net.
“Nothing fazes Amiri and the moment never gets big for him. For a freshman he is very level headed,” Surrency said about the young forward. “He continues to gain confidence and he has scored some big goals for us.”
The 18-year old Abraham, who played at Collins Hill High School in Lawrenceville, Ga., took the team lead in scoring with his fourth and fifth goals of the season.
For the match, GSU dominated possession, held the edge in shots (10-4) and took more corner kicks (4-1).
“The assist by Stephen McGill and Andrew Weber were fantastic. Amiri scored the goals but it was a total team effort,” Surrency said after the match. “I can't say enough about the guys coming off the bench: Andy Anglade, Caleb Kernan, Salomon Lorezano and Neil Rajendran. They each gave us a huge lift and it was a total team win tonight. It is exciting because they are a top 10 team. We expect to win every match and that is why we step onto the field.”
Georgia State's CJ Cochran improves to 5-7-1 this season after the shutout win. He finished with one save on four shots faced. Furman's Sven Lissek falls to 10-2-2 after the loss and he recorded three saves on 10 shots faced.
The Panthers return to the pitch on Saturday, Oct. 26, when they host the Mountaineers of Appalachian State. Match will kick off at 7 p.m. ET at the GSU Soccer Complex.
“A lot of college soccer is momentum. We know that games are going to be crammed into a short period of time and that is part of it. We will be ready,” Surrency said about playing four matches in 12 days.
NOTEBOOK: This is the first time Georgia State has posted a win and a tie over top-10 ranked teams in school history (No. 9 Furman win and No. 6 Washington tie. The Huskies are now No. 4 at 10-0-3)...The last time Georgia State beat a top 25 ranked team at home was a 1-0 win over No. 22 William and Mary on Oct. 5, 2011...The last win over a top 10 team was Sept. 5, 2001, with a 2-1 win at Clemson...Another top 20 win in GSU history was a 1-0 victory over No. 19 Jacksonville on Nov. 7, 1997.
Georgia State ran its home winning streak to four matches with this win and 4-1 on the season...The Panthers dropped the opener 1-0 on Aug. 30 and haven't lost at home since...Four of GSU's final five matches of the regular season will be at home.
In the NCAA RPI, Georgia State entered the match at No. 112 and will obviously move into the top 100 quickly...The Panthers face current No. 22 North Carolina on November 5.
