ATLANTA – Aaron Jones and Conor Acheson scored their first goals of the season to lead the Georgia State men's soccer team to a 2-1 win over Lipscomb Thursday night. The Panthers improve to 2-5-1this season, while the Bisons drop to 3-4-1.
GSU went on the attack early when Amiri Abraham nearly found the back of the net less than one minute into the contest. The Panthers grabbed an early lead three minutes later, when Jones scored his first career goal. Jones collected a loose ball and found an opening down the right side. Then, he fired a curving shot from 30 yards into the top right corner to beat Bison goalkeeper Micah Bledsoe.
Lipscomb responded with two scoring chances of its own in the 12th and 16th minutes. First, Bison Scout Montieth tested GSU keeper CJ Cochran with a shot, but Cochran made the save. Then, Montieth nearly scored again with a header, but Panther defender Bo Stroup cleared the ball off the line. Both teams continued to attack, forcing each goalie to make a save over the next five minutes.
GSU doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Acheson scored his first goal of the season. Jones sent a corner kick into the box, and Acheson was able to out jump a Bison defender and head the ball into the back of the net.
Georgia State nearly extended their lead to three, but Bledsoe saved Neil Rajendran's attempt one-on-one. Rajendran almost scored again in the 44th minute. He was able to slot the ball past Bledsoe on the left but his shot deflected off the post and Bledsoe covered it.
At the break, the Panthers led 2-0 and held the edge in shots (8-5). Lipscomb took one more corner kick (3-2) in the first 45 minutes of play.
Georgia State continued to apply pressure on the Lipscomb defense early in the second half. In the 68th minute, Stephen McGill fired a shot from 20 yards out but it was just wide of the near post.
Both teams had their share of attacking chances over the next 10 minutes, but it was Lipscomb who scored to pull with in one. Omar Djabi collected the ball after a corner kick was deflected in the box. Then, Djabi fired a shot over GSU's Cochran and into the top left corner in the 82nd minute.
The final eight minutes were very tense as the Bisons pushed forward in search of an equalizer. However, the Georgia State defense protected the lead to secure the 2-1 win for the Panthers.
CJ Cochran gets the win for GSU, and he improves to 2-5-1. He recorded two saves on nine shots faced. Bledsoe gets the loss for Lipscomb, and he finished with four saves on 17 shots faced.
The Panthers return to the field Tuesday, Oct. 1, to host the UNCG Spartans. The match is set to kickoff at 5 p.m. at the GSU Soccer Complex.
