Richmond, Va. – A goal in the final second of regulation dealt the Georgia State women’s soccer team (5-10, 2-4 CAA) a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to VCU (5-7-2, 3-2-1 CAA) Sunday afternoon.  

Junior forward Sarah Bennett led the team in shots with six including two on goal. Four other Panthers launched shots on the day including senior defender Bri Cagle with two and Jewel Evans, Erinique Owens and Jordan Young each with one a piece. Rebecca Ingram played all 90 minutes in goal, recording her season-best seven stops.  

“It was a great game where both teams really performed at what they do well,” said head coach Domenic Martelli. “In our case it was getting forward and creating chances offensively and VCU did great with possession. Both teams had some great chances to score throughout the game.”

Bennett opened shooting for the Panthers in the third minute but her shot was just high as it sailed over the crossbar. The Centennial, Colo. native got another opportunity to score 10 minutes later with a header directed towards VCU’s net but the opposing keeper came up with the save to deny Bennett the early goal.

Owens, Cagle and Evans all got a chance at a goal in the first half but none found the back of the net as each shot was either wide or high. VCU booted nine shots in the first half that could not penetrate the Panther defense and both teams entered halftime scoreless.

After the break, Bennett and Young came out determined to get on the board with back to back shots on goal forcing the Rams’ keeper to make two goal-saving stops.  With two more unsuccessful shots from Cagle and Bennett, time to score was running out.

With just one final second remaining in play, VCU netted the game winner. At the 89:59 mark, the Rams’ Cristin Granados slotted a shot in the lower left corner of the goal to steal the game from Georgia State and deny the Panthers a chance for victory in overtime.

“We’ve lost two heartbreaking 1-0 games this weekend,” commented Martelli. “We played well enough in both to come out with a better result. Moving forward, we have four games at home where we have to get some good results and have to win.’

Georgia State’s long string of away games comes to an end with a four-game home stand beginning Friday, Oct. 14. The Panthers will look to bounce back from the disappointing loss Friday evening as they play host to Towson at 7 p.m. in Panthersville.  

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