LAFAYETTE, La. – In GSU's first Sun Belt match of the season, the Georgia State women's soccer team defeated UL Lafayette 2-1 on Friday night in Lafayette, La. Jenna Moore and Nikki Fedele scored to lead the Panthers as they won their conference opener for the first time since 2010.

“It was fantastic to score the early goal," header coach Derek Leader said. "We worked really hard executing the correct tactics to beat UL Lafayette tonight. We wanted to win the first match of the conference season. Now we will shift our focus to winning the opening weekend on Sunday against UL Monroe.”

The Panthers went on the attack first in the 5th minute. Whitney Ravan fired a shot on goal but Alexias Stricklin was there to make the save. GSU had another chance in the 8th minute but Ashley Nagy's header was too high.

In the 10th minute, Georgia State grabbed a 1-0 lead on Jenna Moore's first goal of the season. Margaret Bruemmer sent a low corner to the top of the box and then Kenzie Winters sent the ball back to Bruemmer. She crossed the ball to the far post and Moore was able to head it into the top left corner.

Eight minutes later, UL Lafayette tied the match 1-1 on Kimberly Grasso's third goal of the season.  Lindsay Brammer passed the ball to Grasso who was able to score with a shot over GSU goalkeeper Brie Haynes who was off her line.

Georgia State had five chances over the next 25 minutes to retake the lead.

• First Lauren Harriman fired a shot on target but Stricklin made the save in the 27th minute.
• Nagy then had three chances in the 29th, 36th and 40th minutes but all three efforts were high.
• In 43rd minute, Nagy had another opportunity but her shot was just wide of the left post.

The Panthers finally reclaimed the lead in the 44th minute when Fedele scored her first goal of the season. Nagy cut the ball back to Fedele who scored into the bottom right corner to give GSU a 2-1 lead after 45 minutes.

• Georgia State outshot UL Lafayette 9-4 in the first half and took all three corner kicks.

In the first four minutes of the second half, GSU had two chances to extend its lead.

• First in the 47th minute, Nagy nearly scored but her chance deflected off the post.
• Moore almost scored her second in the 49th minute but Stricklin saved the defender's header.

UL Lafayette had two shots in the next two minute but both were off target. Then in the 61st minute, Haynes saved Brammer's shot on goal. 12 minutes later Yazmin Montoya tested Haynes but the Panther keeper again made the save.

UL Lafayette had two final chances in the final three minutes but both were wide left and GSU secured the 2-1 victory.

“We nearly scored in the first minute of the second half hitting a post and that would have changed the match," Leader said. "However, the team remained focused and we were able to continue with our strategic plan and finish the match with a win.”

• Over 90 minutes, the Panthers attempted 12 shots to the Ragin' Cajuns' 10 and Georgia State took three more corner kicks (5-2).
• The Panthers as they improve to 3-5-3 and 1-0-0 in conference play.
• Brie Haynes picked up the win to improve to 3-4-2 after recording three saves.
• GSU returns to the field to take on UL Monroe at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29.

“The win helps us build a lot of confidence," Leader said. "Last season UL Lafayette beat us at home on the opening weekend. Now we have to carry this momentum to Sunday and get another result.”