Women’s soccer scores late in double overtime triumph

In another heart-stopping finish, the Georgia State women's soccer team stole a victory late in double overtime against in-state rival Mercer in Panthersville on a balmy Sunday afternoon. A mirror image of the Panthers last game against Jacksonville State, the team put in a gritty, hardworking performance to keep Mercer out of their goal until Sarah Bennett found a spectacular shot in dramatic fashion to keep Georgia State undefeated for the season.

Bennett put away the chance in the 106th minute after the best piece of play from the Panthers all game. The defense played a ball into the right corner to find Jewel Evans on a long diagonal run late in overtime. With her body she shielded the ball well from her defender and allowed support to arrive in the form of Jocelyn Baker.

Baker beat one defender and sent a powerful in-swinging cross into the box that was controlled nicely by Apryl Goodwin and touched to Sarah Bennett who had made a 30 yard run from a deep-lying midfield position.

Bennett took one touch to set up a half-volley on her right foot that she drilled into the bottom-right corner of the net giving the Mercer goalkeeper no chance to stop it.

The five-pass sequence represented the best passage of play for the Panthers all day and they were rewarded for their unwavering commitment. It was a beautiful team goal that involved each of the Panther's stand-outs: Apryl Goodwin, Sarah Bennett, Jewel Evans, and Jocelyn Baker. Erinique Owens also contributed a herculean display in the midfield, winning challenge after challenge and stymieing many of Mercer's dangerous attacks.

Coach Domenic Martelli, however, was quick to give credit to his entire team for another never-say-die effort following a grueling win against Jacksonville State.

"You can single out all 12, 13, 14 girls who played...When you look at each individual piece, our focus today was what can they influence on the game, individually who can influence a certain part of the game or what can you do to influence the game and make a footprint. I have to say every single player that stepped on the field today for Georgia State, all of them, put some kind of an imprint, and a footprint, and influenced the game in our favor and that's why we won 1-0 in overtime."

He did reserve some praise for Jewel Evans, Jocelyn Baker, Enrinique Owens, and the goalscorer Sarah Bennett.

"Jewel's speed is very noticeable, you look at everything Jocelyn has done, I think Erinique came out and had a great game and helped us in certain spots."

He was also impressed with back-to-back more than 100 minute defensive performances. "You've got to give credit to Lani Huntley, who has a broken finger, a hurt knee, Kaila Mueke covering the best player that I think we'll play in non-conference and then of course Sarah Bennett with the beautiful finish."

"We talked about it at the end of the game, right before the second overtime – she had a couple of good shots but was just a little bit over zealous on them, and she took a second, took a more focused approach and struck it well and – boom – it was a goal."

Bennett took 3 shots, putting 2 on target, including the game-winner.

GeorgiaStatewas fortunate to come away with the win as Mercer was in the ascendency for the majority of the 2nd half and overtime.

The Panthers came out strong to start the game with Kaila Mueke slipping Jewel Evans in on goal who beat the keeper but also beat the post. Evans, who scored the game winner in the Panthers' previous match against Jacksonville State, was active early. In the 5th minute she broke down the right channel, earning Georgia State their only first-half corner.

A few dangerous balls were played in by Jocelyn Baker in the 12th minute, then Sarah Bennett in the 19th minute, Lani Huntley in the 26th, and Bri Cagle in the 35th minute, but Georgia State couldn't find the handle on the ball in Mercer's 18-yard box.

Georgia State would have some break away attempts in the 2nd half orchestrated by Apryl Goodwin and Jewel Evans, but by the end of the 1st half Mercer had asserted their dominance and continued into overtime.

Hard working efforts in the midfield by Erinique Owens and Kaila Mueke kept Mercer at bay during a second half 7-shot onslaught led by Mercer's Nadja Kolliesuah, Olivia Tucker, and Casey Barrett. Both Heidi Blankenship in the 1st half and Kellianne Collins in the 2nd had flawless performances between the sticks. They never really looked troubled throughout the match. Collins had some especially clutch saves toward the end of the 2nd half in regulation, keeping the Panthers alive for overtime.

The Panthers look to keep their undefeated record intact as they face Statesboro rival Georgia Southern away on Friday, Sept. 3rd.