STATESBORO, Ga. – On a brisk night in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship, the Georgia State men's soccer team was defeated by Georgia Southern 2-1 on Friday, Nov. 14 in Statesboro, Ga.

• Amiri Abraham scored the opening goal but Georgia Southern equalized to tie the match at halftime.
• The Eagles took the lead in the 71st minute and Georgia State could not score a second goal to force overtime.
• GSU finishes the season with an 8-10 overall record.

Georgia State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute when Abraham scored his third goal of the season for the Panthers.

• Rashid Alarape fired a cross into the six-yard box from the right edge of the penalty area.
• Abraham was the first to the ball but his initial shot was saved by Jack Falle.
• However, the rebound fell to the sophomore who slotted it into the open net.

In the 15th minute, Georgia Southern tied the score 1-1 when Eric Dinka scored his fifth goal of the season. Ethan LaPan played a long pass to Dinka on the left flank. The junior then fired a shot from the edge the 18-yard box into the bottom right corner.

GSU nearly reclaimed the lead in the 26th minute after a corner kick.

• Aaron Jones whipped a ball into the 18-yard box that fell to Cory Plasker.
• Plasker fired a shot on goal from inside the six-yard box but Falle made a diving save to deny the Panthers a second goal.

Three minutes later, Georgia State had another chance take the lead but Falle saved Bo Stroup's effort. Georgia Southern responded with a chance of its own in the 32nd minute but David Vargas Masis' shot was wide left.

In the 37th minute GSU nearly took the lead again after great combination play by the Panthers.

• Stephen McGill played a nice one-two with Stroup.
• Stroup continued his run and was again found by McGill.
• Stroup then laid it off to Andy Anglade at the top of the 18-yard box.
• Anglade chipped the ball back to Stroup who fired a shot towards the top-right corner but Falle made the save.

The Eagles had the final chance of the first half in the 45th minute but Dinka shot was wide left.

• At the break the teams were level 1-1.
• GSU held a 10-6 advantage in shots and a 5-2 edge in shots on goal.
• Georgia State took four of five total corners in the first half.

The Panthers had the first quality opportunity of the second half in the 50th minute. Nomis Cisic fired a shot from just inside the penalty area but it was inches wide of the left post. Eight minutes later GSU had another chance to retake the lead.

• On a quick counter attack, Alarape found Wilding behind the Eagle defense.
• Wilding fired a low shot on goal under pressure but Falle made a diving save.

In the 64th minute Alarape found some space in the 18-yard box off a pass from Wilding. The freshman beat Falle, who was off his line, but the shot was just wide of the left post.

Despite the Panthers controlling the play in the second half it was Georgia Southern who took the lead in the 71st minute. Emmanuel Raji slotted Adam Abdellaoui's cross past GSU goalkeeper CJ Cochran from just inside the six-yard box.

Georgia State continued to push numbers forward over the final 19 minutes but were unable to create many quality scoring chances as Georgia Southern put 10 players behind the ball. The Panthers' final opportunity came in the 88th minute but McGill's header was high and the match ended 2-1 to the Eagles.

• GSU outshot Georgia Southern 18-11 and held a 6-3 advantage in shots on target.
• The Panthers finished with eight corners to the Eagles one.
• Stephen McGill and Eddie Wilding were named to the all-tournament team.