ATLANTA – Behind a pair of first-half goals by Whitney Ravan, the Georgia State women's soccer team cruised to a 2-0 victory over rival Georgia Southern at the GSU Soccer Complex on Sunday, Oct. 12.

The Panthers dominated the game from the opening whistle to hand the Eagles their first loss in the Sun Belt this season. GSU outshot Georgia Southern 16-9, including a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. Georgia State improves to 5-6-4 overall and 3-1-1 in conference play, while Georgia Southern drops to 9-3-1 and 4-1-0 in the Sun Belt this season.

The Eagles went on the attack first in the fifth minute. Sydnie Van Curen fired a shot on goal but it was saved by Panther goalkeeper Brie Haynes. Georgia State's first scoring chance came in the 11th minute following a Georgia Southern foul.

• First, Jenna Moore's low free kick from just outside the 18-yard box deflected off the left post.
• Then the ball hit Eagle keeper Katie Merson and was loose inside the six-yard box.
• Ravan beat a Georgia Southern defender to the ball and fired it into the back of the net to give GSU a 1-0 lead.

In the 15th minute the Eagles had another chance but Jennifer Wittick was denied by Haynes. Six minutes later the Panthers doubled their lead when Ravan scored her second goal of the match.

• Georgia State was awarded another free kick after a Georgia Southern foul.
• Margaret Bruemmer sent a dangerous free kick towards the far post.
• Lauren Harriman headed the ball towards the bottom-right corner but Merson made a diving save.
• However, the rebound fell to Ravan again who lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the top-left corner to put GSU up 2-0 after 21 minutes.

There was not another quality scoring chance for either team over the final 24 minutes and the first half ended with Georgia State holding a 2-0 advantage.

• At the break GSU had taken one more shot (6-5) but Georgia Southern took all three corner kicks of the first 45 minutes.

The Panthers nearly grabbed their third in the 47th minute but Ravan's shot was saved by Merson. The Eagles had a trio of over the next seven minutes but all three shots were off target.

After a quiet 10 minutes, Georgia State had three chances to extend its lead but could not find a third goal.

• First Rebecca Copeland's lunging effort was cleared off the goal line by an Eagle defender in the 64th minute.
• Then Copeland had another chance in the 71st minute but her shot was right at Merson who made the save.
• Finally Harriman nearly scored in the 80th minute after great build-up play but her header from just outside the six-yard box was too high.

Leading 2-0 the Panthers controlled the final 36 minutes and did not allow the Eagles to create any scoring chances.

• Over 90 minutes, Georgia State outshot Georgia Southern 16-9.
• Haynes picked up her fifth win of 2014. She finished with two saves en route to her fifth shutout of the sea
• 23 total fouls were called in the very hard-fought contest.
• Panthers return to the field on Friday, Oct. 17 to face Troy. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. in Troy, Ala.