ATLANTA – In the Panthers' final match before their Sun Belt Conference opener, the Georgia State men's soccer team was defeated by Belmont 2-0 Tuesday night at the GSU Soccer Complex.
The Panthers went on the attack first in the 8th minute when Bo Stroup forced Bruin goalkeeper Grayson Rector to saved his long-rang effort. Belmont responded with a chance of its own in the 12th minute but CJ Cochran made the save.
Over the next nine minutes both teams attempted two shots but none were on target. Georgia State had the next quality scoring chance in the 40th minute. Andy Anglade cut inside from the left flank and fired a low shot but Rector was there for the save.
Belmont had one final chance in the final minute of the first half but Joonas Bask's header was too high.
- At the break the Bruins held a 5-4 shot advantage and each team earned three corners.
- Luke Oesterle replaced CJ Cochran in goal for GSU in the second half.
Over a six-minute stretch early in the second half, Belmont attempted four shots, including three on target.
- First Luca Schioppa's shot was wide right in the 54th minute.
- Then Rashad Hyacenth forced Oesterle to make his first save of the match in the 55th minute.
- In the 59th minute Joao Fonseca fired a shot from long range over Oesterle's head but the Panther keeper made a great leaping save to push the ball over the crossbar.
- However, on the resulting corner kick, Nat Hubert whipped the ball towards the near post and Sam Black found the back of the net with a powerful header to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
Belmont maintained this pressure over the next three minutes and was able to double its lead in the 62nd minute. Fonseca fired a shot on target that Oesterle saved but the rebound fell to Diego Figueroa, who tapped it into the open net from six yards out for a 2-0 lead.
Over the final 28 minutes the Panthers pressed hard in search of a goal but could find the back of the net.
- The match ended 2-0 in favor of the Bruins, who outshot GSU 8-1 in the second half and 13-5 over 90 minutes.
- Now the Panther prepare for their first Sun Belt match on Saturday, Oct. 11. Georgia State will face NJIT at 5 p.m. in Newark, N.J.
