HUNTINGTON, -- Georgia State suffered a 2-0 defeat on the road against Marshall on Saturday (Oct. 7) at Hoops Family Field.
Marshall had a strong start to the game, launching their first shot in the 4th minute and finding the back of the net in the 15th minute of the first half, taking an early 1-0 lead.
Josue Hangi came up with a crucial save in the 27th minute, preserving the score at 1-0. Shortly after, the Panthers had their first shot and came close to leveling the score when Justin McLean fired a shot that was saved by the Marshall goalkeeper.
The teams maintained a back-and-forth battle for possession until the final minute of the half when Marshall managed to get off two shots. The Panthers swiftly recovered from the missed opportunities and initiated a counter-attack. In a remarkable sequence, Simon Carlson met a perfectly placed cross into the box from Gavin Williams with a header. However, the Marshall goalkeeper produced a brilliant save to maintain the score at 1-0 in favor of Marshall as the half concluded.
At halftime, Marshall held the advantage in shots, leading 6-2, while the shots on target were tied at 2-2. Marshall also led in corner kicks, with a 1-0 advantage.
The second half commenced with Bryan Akongo narrowly missing a shot to the right. Then, in the 53rd minute, Josue Hangi made a great save, and Marshall's follow-up attempt struck the crossbar, narrowly avoiding a goal.
In the 62nd minute, Gavin Williams sent a good shot in that the Marshall keeper was able to save. However, Marshall would then find the back of the net in the 67th minute to make the score 2-0.
The Panthers fought hard throughout the remainder of the game in an attempt to stage a comeback. They even managed to earn two corner kicks but were unable to find a goal to narrow the lead. The match ultimately concluded with #1 Marshall securing a 2-0 victory.
Simon Carlson was a standout performer, recording two shots, while Josue Hangi made two crucial saves.
Georgia St. fell to 4-4-4 overall and 1-2-1 in SBCÂ action following the defeat.
The Panthers are set to return to the pitch on Friday, October 13th, as they face in-state rival Georgia Southern.
For all things Georgia State soccer, follow the team on social (@gsumenssoccer) as the Panthers continue the 2023 season.
