ATLANTA – The Georgia State women's soccer team suffered another heartbreaking loss Sunday, Sept. 8, to the Dolphins of Jacksonville. Kaitlyn Bassett's goal in the 83rdminute was the difference in a 1-0 win for Jacksonville over GSU. The Panthers have dropped three straight matches by one goal.
Jacksonville nearly struck early in the 3minute but Alexandra Lee's header was just high. 20 seconds later, the Dolphins were on the attack again when Bassett tested GSU goalkeeper Brie Haynes with a shot but Haynes made the save.
Haynes was called on again in the 12th minute when she saved Jacksonville's Joy Grove's shot. Over the next 10 minutes, both teams attempted shots but none were on target. Georgia State's first quality scoring chance came in the 24th minute when Alyssia Feronti's cross found Lauren Harriman. Harriman fired a shot on goal, but Dolphin keeper Sarah Sierra was there to make the save. The Panthers attacked again in the 27th minute but Sierra saved GSU's Jordan Young's attempt.
The first half ended with the score still tied 0-0. Jacksonville held the edge in shots (7-4) and corner kicks taken (4-2). During the first 45 minutes, both Haynes and Sierra recorded two saves.
The Dolphins started fast again in the second half, forcing Haynes to make her third save in the 50th minute on another shot by Bassett. GSU responded with a trio of scoring chances by Whitney Ravan in the 54th, 55th and 61st minutes. All three shots had pace but were right at Sierra for comfortable saves.
In the 83rdminute, Jacksonville grabbed the lead on Bassett's fifth goal of the season. Lindsay Forrest found Bassett for a header with a cross from the left flank. Haynes was able to make a great reflex save, but she was unable to control the rebound. The balled rolled away from Haynes, and Bassett was able to tap it in off Haynes' finger tips.
The Dolphins almost doubled their lead twice over the next two minutes, but Haynes was there to record her fifth and sixth saves of the match.
Georgia State pushed to find a equalizer over the final five minutes but were unable to generate a quality scoring chance, and the match ended 1-0 in favor of Jacksonville.
“In the first game Mercer score with 4 seconds left. Thee second game was in overtime at Alabama. The third Kennesaw State scored with 4 minutes left, and today Jacksonville scored in the 83rdminute. The team is doing what they need to do, but we are not finishing the job. The players know it is on them if they want to change these results,” head coach Derek Leader said after the tough start to the season.
Overall, the Dolphins held the edge in shots (16-11) and corner kicks (7-5). Haynes gets the loss to fall to 0-3-1, and she finished the match with six saves on 16 shots faced. Sierra earned the win to improve to 3-2. She recorded five saves on 11 shots.
“Brie Haynes made two great saves. Even the goal she allowed she did everything right,” Leader said about the goalkeeper's performance Sunday. “She is supremely impressive, and we are extremely pleased with how she has been able to perform as a freshman.”
The Panthers will return to action Friday, Sept. 13, when they travel to face UT-Martin. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
