ATLANTA – Cory Plasker scored the game-winning goal in the 95th minute to lift the Georgia State men's soccer team to a 2-1 overtime win against Wofford. GSU improves to 4-5-1 this season and is unbeaten in its last five matches.
“It was a slow first half, and we put ourselves in a hole,” head coach Brett Surrency said after the match. “The players came out with a much better approach in the second half. Two games in a row we have come back to win. It shows what kind of talent this team has. They are a group that has a lot of belief.”
Wofford, who was unbeaten in its last seven matches, jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute on Connor Davis' eighth goal of the season. Matthew Aurednik passed the ball to Davis, who was able to fire it off GSU goalkeeper CJ Cochran and into the back of the net from 10 yards out.
The Terriers nearly doubled their lead at the end of the first half. Blair Gaines' chip over Cochran was too high and it deflected of the cross bar for a goal kick in the 42nd minute. After 45 minutes, Wofford led 1-0 and held a 9-1 edge in shots.
In the 53rd minute, GSU tied the match when Stephen McGill scored his third goal in his last two games. The Panthers won procession and went on a quick counter attack. Salomon Lorenzano sent a cross into the box from the right side. Then, McGill headed it past Wofford keeper Garrett Closs to tie the match 1-1.
“Stephen McGill is really stepping his game up,” Surrency said about the junior midfielder. “He said earlier today that he wanted to put more of the scoring load on his shoulders and he did that. If he consistently keeps that up, which I think he can, it will help us go a long way.”
Both teams continued to attack for the remainder of the second half, forcing both goalies to make saves. GSU's best scoring chance came in the 68th minute, but Michael Nwiloh's header was just wide of the left post. After 90 minutes, Wofford held the edge in shots (14-6) and GSU took two more corner kicks (8-6).
In overtime, the Terriers went on the attack first. The forced Cochran to make his fourth save of the match in the 93rd minute. Two minutes later, Cory Plasker scored his first career goal to lift the Panthers to a 2-1 win. Aaron Jones sent a free kick towards the far post, Nwiloh headed the ball back to the near post, and Plasker was there to slot it into the back of the net.
Georgia State's CJ Cochran gets the win to improve to 4-5-1. He finished with four saves on 15 shots faced. Wofford's Garrett Closs falls to 3-4 after the loss and the Terriers slip to 6-4-1 on the season.. He recorded two saves on seven shots.
“This game is a microcosm of this season,” Surrency said. “The team started slow but they continued to fight, and at the end of the day we are turning things around.”
GSU will return to action Friday, Oct. 11, when the Panthers travel to battle in-state rival Georgia Southern (4-6). The match is set to kickoff at 5 p.m. in Statesboro, Ga.
