Box Score Box Score
ROCK HILL, SC – Apryl Goodwin's goal in the 108th minute of play gave the Georgia State Bulldogs a 1-0 double-overtime win over the Winthrop Eagles on Friday evening at Eagle Field.
The Eagles fall to 0-5-1 on the season, while the Panthers improve to 5-2-1 overall.
“I thought it was a good performance by us tonight,” said head coach Spencer Smith. “Georgia State is a great team who is well-coached. We handled it well for the most part. We played good tonight.”
Goodwin's goal came after Georgia State crossed the ball from the far side of the field inside the 18-yard box. The initial header by Jewel Evans went past Winthrop goalie Sarah Schippers and hit off the far post, but Goodwin was there for the rebound. The ball hit off her chest and went into the back corner of the net for the game-winner.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle for both the Eagles and Panthers as neither team manufactured a goal, although the squads attempted seven shots and three shots on-goal each.
Winthrop's best scoring opportunity of the first stanza came in the 22nd minute after it was able to penetrate the Georgia State defense on a cross from Tricia Vensel to Ariel Kunde. Kunde managed to beat Panther goalie Heidi Blankenship, but took her shot with the ball in mid-air and sent it to the right of the net.
Georgia State looked to take the lead in the 40th minute on a header by Lindsay Mortellaro on the near side. Her header, though, was blocked by the Eagle defense at the post.
Rachel Webster led Winthrop with three shots in the opening half, all of them coming on-goal. Seven different Panthers had one shot each.
Schippers had three saves to end the half, while Blankenship also had three.
Georgia State came out in the second half and immediately put pressure on the Eagles. Goodwin got Schippers to move outside the 18-yard box and beat her for an open goal chance against the Winthrop defense, but her shot was blocked by Courtney Durbin as she standing in front of the goal.
The Panthers continued their offensive pressure throughout the second half, but Schippers prevented all of their scoring opportunities with numerous diving saves, including one in which she had to go back across her body to make the stop. Schippers would finish the contest with a career-high eight saves.
The Eagles looked to take the lead with 4:40 remaining in the second stanza when Webster put a through ball into the middle of the field to Allie VandeWater for a one-on-one chance against Georgia State goalkeeper Kellianne Collins. The chance was halted when Collins came out the box and made a sliding save before VandeWater could take a shot. It was the only save of the contest for Collins.
The Panthers held a 22-14 advantage in shots over Winthrop, and also led in attempts on-net 9-4.
Webster and Vensel led the Eagles offensively with three shots apiece, while Sarah Bennett posted a team-high eight shots for the Panthers.
Winthrop will be back in action on Sunday, Sept. 19 as it will travel to Davidson, NC to face the Davidson Wildcats at 2 p.m.
