ATLANTA - Ethan Sassine connected on a spectacular game-tying bicycle kick in the second half to lift Georgia State to a 2-2 draw with Old Dominion in their Sun Belt opener at the GSU Soccer Complex on Saturday night.

Georgia State trailed 2-1 in the 89th when a volley from Bryan Silva found Sassine in the box, and Sassine immediately one-timed Silva's volley with a bicycle kick for the equalizer.  Sassine's goal is his team-leading fourth of the season after missing last season due to injury.

With the tie, GSU moves to 2-2-3 and open Sun Belt play at 0-0-1.

Shots were at a premium in the first half as both teams combined for seven with Old Dominion (2-0-4, 0-0-1) holding a slight 4-3 edge.  The Monarchs drew first blood in the 14th minute when on a 3-on-2 fast break, William Arneson found Key White in open space on the right side and White scored to give ODU a 1-0 lead.

GSU responded instantly a minute later when Charlie Ward one-timed Justin McLean's free kick from the right side of the box into the back of the net to even the game at 1-1.

The intensity ramped up in the second half as the teams combined for 21 shots with GSU holding an 11-10 edge, but ODU took the lead once again in the 59th minute on a goal by Nicholas Alves to make it 2-1.

The Panthers fought hard in the remainder of the match, forcing six of their 10 corner kicks in the final 31 minutes looking for the equalizer and had several good looks before Sassine came through with his bicycle kick with 1:33 remaining.  Bryan Akongo had a header blocked in the 67th minute, and Justin McLean had two good looks, but his free kick in the 75th minute was saved by the keeper, and his shot in the 87th minute went out right.

Even Schroeder led GSU with three shots, and keeper Josue Hangi tallied five saves.

Georgia State will travel to Columbia, South Carolina to face the South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday, September 22.  Kickoff is at 7 p.m.