One week off a huge win, KSU soccer looked to shine on a beautiful Friday night. It front of the biggest crowd that the Owls had ever seen at KSU Stadium, the Georgia State Panthers had a different idea.
Georgia State defeated KSU by a score of 2-1 Friday, Aug 24.
“The fans were fantastic tonight,” KSU head coach Rob King said. “We have a lot of community here.”
After defeating the Alabama A&M Lady Bulldogs on Sunday, the Owls had a week off to recover before facing off against their cross-town rivals. The Panthers were coming off their second loss of the season at the hands of Jacksonville State, and were looking to get their first win in KSU Stadium.
The Panthers went on the attack early, using some Owl turnovers to keep the ball on their offensive side of the field. The Panthers scored just minutes into the contest when forward Jewel Evans received a cross from Ashley Nagy and shot it on goal. The ball slipped right through the hands of KSU goalkeeper Lauren Roberts and fell into the back of the net.
“We were a little flat early on,” King said. “We just didn’t take the game to them in the first half the way we did in the second half.”
In an attempt to gain momentum, the Owls went on the attack. Forward Katrina Frost and midfielder Julia Nelson fired shots toward the net from the left side of the field, but both attempts trickled just wide. Freshman Danielle Gray, who scored three goals against Alabama A&M Sunday, made a move down the same side of the field past the Panthers defense, but was unable to find any teammates in scoring positions.
The Panthers however refused to falter. With speed and physicality, they continued to challenge the Owls on both sides of the ball. Panthers forward Jordan Young entered the game and rejuvenated the Georgia State offense. Despite receiving a yellow card, Young was able to use her speed and help the Panthers retain their 1-0 lead as they entered the locker room at half.
The Panthers kept up the ferocity in the second half, forcing the Owls to play on their heels. KSU struggled to go on the offensive, and spent the early minutes of the half fending off the Panthers attack. Roberts was key for the Owls, playing tough in front of the net to keep the Owls from falling into a 2-0 hole.
Gray jumped up to forward after playing the entire first half on defense. Gray and Frost looked to put the Owls on the board with some persistent play on the Panther’s end of the field. Frost took a shot from the top of the box that sailed wide, just right of the net. Minutes later, Gray settled a cross just feet from the front of the goal, but kicked the shot over the net.
“We moved some personal around a little bit and had a much better second half performance.” King said.
Gray continued to lead the Owls. Working the ball down the right side of the field, Gray crossed a past to the streaking Iyani Hughes at the center of the box, who was able to put the ball on net. Panther goalkeeper Rebecca Ingram kept her composure, making her first save of the game on the shot.
Gray’s hard work paid off. With just over six minutes left, Nelson took a corner kick and found Gray inside the box. Gray headed the ball over the hands of Ingram, tying the game at 1-1 on her fourth goal of the season
With half a minute left in the game, the Panthers added the icing to the cake. Evans crossed the ball from the right side of the field, finding Alyssa Feronti in the box, who took her third shot of the game. Roberts made the save, but left a rebound, which was hammered into the net by Whitney Ravan.
“It was a good game,” King said. “The result didn’t go the way we wanted, but we still have some work to do. It’s going to be a good rivalry.”
The Owls will have one week of preparation before playing the Lady Vols of Tennessee Friday, Aug. 31, in what will be a highly anticipated matchup.
