Georgia State got its first win of the season in a thrilling finale against Kennesaw State.

The Panthers (1-2) took down the Owls (0-3) in front of a 2,600 person crowd with a last second shot by sophomore Whitney Ravan.

In the first half, junior Jewel Evans got things started with her first goal of the season just four and half minutes into the game, on a cross field shot from freshman Ashley Nagy. At first it appeared the goalie had made the save, but at the last second, it slipped through her fingertips and into the goal. Junior Alyssia Feronti got two shots off from deep, but both just missed. Kennesaw State did manage to tally two shots, but Georgia State’s defensive line stood strong.

The second half had both teams battling to puts shots on goal. Georgia State got six shots off in the second half, and Kennesaw had five. But late into the second half, Kennesaw State’s Danielle Gray grabbed her fourth goal of the season by putting a header in the back of the net past goalkeeper Rebecca Ingram.

It appeared the game would go into overtime as only 30 seconds remained, but Georgia State was still playing aggressive offense. Evans crossed the ball from the sideline towards the net and Feronti fielded it and tried to put a shot into the net. The Kennesaw State goalie saved the attempt, but Ravan was able to get a piece of it and put it back past her.

“I knew (Jewel) Evans would get it me,” Ravan said. “She’s my teammate and I know her and I trust her. We’ve had a couple tough losses and I said to myself, ‘We will not lose this game.’ The ball came to me and I put it in.”

It was Ravan’s second goal in two games. Georgia State had a total of four shots on goal, two of which connected. The win gives coach Derek Leader his first as head of a Division I school and at Georgia State University.

“It was an exciting game, where we were able to score early and command the tempo for most of the game,” Leader said after the game. “Kennesaw State was able to equalize late, which caused some nervous moments for our girls. But they responded well and it was an exciting match for all the people here.

“(Leah) Beasley and (Elizabeth) Kinsel were absolute monsters. I’m very proud of how the whole team came together and get battle-tested. This game will go a long way in helping propel us forward for the Southern Miss tournament next weekend.”

The Panthers will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to take on Mississippi State and Southern Miss on Aug. 31 and Sept. 2. 

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