Jacksonville, Fla. – The Georgia State women’s soccer team (0-5) battled Jacksonville (3-2-1) to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation but fell 2-1 in overtime Sunday afternoon in the Fun in the Sun Tournament.

Freshman forward Whitney Ravan tallied the Panthers’ lone goal, the first of her career. Redshirt-sophomore Rebecca Ingram registered two saves in goal to bring her season total to 15 since taking over starting duties from injured senior Kellianne Collins in GSU’s second game of the season.

“It’s hard to lose back-to-back games in overtime,” said head coach Domenic Martelli.  “It was hard Friday to lose it so late and hard today because we played well and were the better team throughout much of the game. It has been really tough because we have had four straight one goal games and two in overtime.”

Georgia State got on the board right out of the gate with a goal at the 2:47 mark.  Ravan blasted a shot from 10 yards out that got past the Jacksonville keeper in the right corner of the net. Following the Panther score, Jacksonville took eight shots but none were able to penetrate GSU’s defense.

 In the dwindling minutes of the first half, junior forward Sarah Bennett and freshman forward Eryka Hawkins powered shots on goal but Jacksonville keeper Sarah Sierra came up with saves on both goal attempts. The first half came to an end with Georgia State holding a one-goal lead.

“We had a great first half and a good first part of the second half,” said Martelli. “We scored early in the game and then created a lot of chances in the second half. It did rain on and off throughout the entire game so that made the conditions a bit more difficult.”

Early in the second half, Georgia State conceded a penalty and Jacksonville’s Jessica Hurtado made the goal for the Dolphins to even the score 1-1.

With less than five minutes remaining in regulation, sophomore Alison Gonzalez tried for the game winner with a powerful shot on Jacksonville’s goal but was denied the score by a save from Sierra. The time ran out on the clock with both teams tied at one goal apiece. 

Jacksonville’s game-winning goal came just over two minutes into the first overtime period to give the Dolphins the 2-1 victory.

“We are good enough to create better results,” commented Martelli.  “We will improve every day and learn from this. We will take it one game at a time and start getting some wins beginning on Friday. Our goal for the entire week is to train hard, work hard and get good results next weekend.”

Georgia State will look for its first victory Friday, Sept. 9 against in-state foe Georgia Southern at 3 p.m. in Panthersville.  

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