Panthers Rout Old Dominion, 4-0

October 3, 2011

ATLANTA – Georgia State women’s soccer captured its second conference win Sunday afternoon with a 4-0 shutout over Old Dominion at the Panthersville Soccer Complex.

The victory elevates Georgia State to .500 in conference with a record of 2-2 against Colonial Athletic Association opponents and increases its overall record to 5-8. The loss for Old Dominion was its first in conference and dropped the Monarchs to an overall record of 5-5-2 and 2-1-1 in the CAA.

Sunday’s 4-0 triumph ties the Panthers’ record for largest margin of victory over a CAA opponent. The only other instance GSU held a four-goal lead over a CAA foe was during its inaugural season with the conference with a 4-0 win over George Mason in 2005.

“We put it together today,” said head coach Domenic Martelli. “Going in, we had a nice game plan for what we needed to do with our game and how we needed to control Old Dominion. We have to show up in these conference games and today we definitely did. We have learned something from every game since the beginning of the season and it showed today as we put it all together to end with a great result.”

Sophomore forward Jewel Evans netted the first score of the match, her fourth of the season. The Panthers also received goals from freshman Eryka Hawkins and junior Sarah Bennett, as well as a season-first goal for senior defender Bri Cagle. Senior goalkeeper Kellianne Collins registered five saves on the day to give GSU its first shutout of the season.

The Panthers first goal came at the 20:42 mark with the scoring play beginning on a GSU corner kick. Following the lofty kick from sophomore Alyssia Feronti, the ball was batted around in front of the goal before redshirt-sophomore Jordan Young set up Evans for the Panthers’ opening-score.

Georgia State tallied again in the 29^th minute when Hawkins gained possession of a defensive clear that resulted off a cross from Young on the right side. Hawkins drilled the ball past the goalkeeper into the right corner of the net to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

Just over a minute later, GSU completed its first half scoring. An Old Dominion defender took down freshman Whitney Ravan just outside the 18-yard box to set Cagle up for a free kick. Cagle slotted the ball by the Monarch’s defensive wall into the left bottom corner of the goal to give the Panthers a three-goal advantage going into halftime.

Old Dominion’s best scoring opportunity came 15 minutes after the break when Lisa Bernardini corralled an entry pass to face off one on one with Collins. Bernardini booted a shot towards the left side of the Panthers’ goal but Collins leapt up and to the left to stop the ball with a one-handed save and preserve the shutout for GSU.

“We had a nice plan defensively,” commented Martelli. “This was definitely our best defensive game and it shows as we got a shutout. Our starters did the work and then as we started subbing in off the bench, the got it done as well.”

The Panthers’ capped off their scoring in the 65^th minute. The play unfolded as Ravan dribbled in to draw the goalkeeper out and blasted a shot that was deflected by the keeper back into play. Bennett was there to deposit the ricochet into the back of the net and secure the Panthers’ 4-0 victory over Old Dominion.

The Georgia State women’s soccer team continues conference play Friday, Oct. 7 with a road game against 2010 CAA Champions James Madison at 7 p.m.

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