ATLANTA – Behind a trio of first half goals, the Georgia State women's soccer team cruised past Arkansas State 5-2 Sunday afternoon at the GSU Soccer Complex in Atlanta, Ga. The Panthers' five goals is the most scored in a match since 2010.

“We played great in the first half to take a 3-0 lead at the break,” head coach Derek Leader. “Early in the second half we had a mental lapse that led to Arkansas State's first goal and there was nothing we could do about the second goal.”

“Arkansas State put us under some pressure, but I am really proud of the way the team responded,” Leader said. “We were able to score two late goals to secure the victory. Now we must shift our focus to Oct. 12 against Georgia Southern which we know will be a very tough match.”

The Red Wolves had the first chance of the match in the third minute but GSU goalkeeper Christa Fox saved Loren Mitchell's attempt.

Georgia State responded to grab a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when Lauren Harriman scored her first goal of the season.

• A cross was sent into the box and Arkansas State goalkeeper Sara Wicks had to punch it out of danger.
• However, the ball fell to Harriman who scored from 10 yards out into the open net to give the Panthers the lead.

Eight minutes later, GSU doubled its lead when Kylie Ruffule assisted on Whitney Ravan's fourth goal of the season.

• Ruffule found Ravan at the top of the 18-yard box, and Ravan was able to make a quick turn past a Red Wolves' defender.
• The senior forward then fired a shot past Wicks and into the bottom left corner.

Arkansas State's next chance came in the 23rd minute but Mitchell's header was wide of the left post. The Panthers nearly extended their lead in the 35th minute but Lauren Harriman's shot hit the right post.

Georgia State did take a 3-0 lead in the 43rd minute when Suzanne Arafa scored her first career goal for GSU.

• Following a save on a shot by Briana Williams, Fox kicked the ball long to Arafa, who got behind the defense and had a free run on goal.
• She was one-on-one with Wicks and she calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.

After 45 minutes, the Panthers held a 7-6 shot advantage and scored with all three shots on target. Amanda Lee replaced Wicks in goal for Arkansas State for the second half.

The Red Wolves went on the attack early in the second half and pulled a goal back in the 51st minute. Jordan Adams and Ava Abner combined to find Tayler Carter in the 18-yard box after she got behind the GSU defense. Carter then flicked the ball past Fox and into the net to make it 3-1.

Five minutes later, Arkansas State scored again to cut the Panthers' lead to 3-2. Mykel Ward passed the ball to Carter, who fired a shot into the top-left corner from 30 yards out to make it a one-goal game.

Over the next 25 minutes the Red Wolves continue to apply pressure on the Georgia State defense but it was the Panthers who responded with a goal in the 83rd minute to give them a two-goal cushion.

• Ravan passed the ball wide to Copeland who fired a shot from the right.
• The ball deflected off the left post, hit the goalkeeper and went into the back of the net.
• The goal was Copeland's first of her career at GSU.

Three minutes later Ravan bagged her second goal of the match and fifth of the season to give GSU a 5-2 lead.

• Harriman passed the ball to Ravan at the top of the 18-yard box.
• Ravan used a quick turn to create enough space to get her shot off.
• She then fired the ball over the keeper and into the top-left corner.

Fox made one final save in the 87th minute on the Red Wolves final scoring chance as Georgia State secured the comfortable victory.

• The Panthers improve to 4-6-4 overall and 2-1-1 in the Sun Belt this season.
• GSU outshot Arkansas State 13-11, including a 7-5 edge in shots on target.
• Georgia State returns to the field on Sunday, Oct. 12 when the Panthers host in-state rival Georgia Southern. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the GSU Soccer Complex.