Panthers tie USC-Upstate in home opener

Settling for a disappointing draw, the Georgia State men's soccer team tied South Carolina- Upstate 1-1 to remain unbeaten on the year. The Panthers faced an obstinate defense in the form of the Spartans. USC-Upstate came into the game off a similar double overtime stalemate against Gardner-Webb, who just a few days earlier, the Panthers hung a late loss on in the Panthers' opener away from Atlanta on Sept. 1 in Boiling Springs, N.C. Sophomore Alex Reyes found the net nearly two minutes into stoppage time off a rebound from a Gimel Gordon shot to win the Panthers' opener in stunning fashion.

Back home in Atlanta, however, the Panthers were unable to find any last minute heroics before the referee signaled the end of overtime. The game petered out after a fairly erratic, back-and-forth regulation period with Georgia State creating far more clear scoring opportunities. Squandering good chances and 60 percent of the ball's possession, the Panthers will feel they should have done more to secure a victory.

The Panthers came out with the energy in the first half with sophomore Yasser Majlut, #10, controlling the ball in the midfield and distributing nicely from flank-to-flank. Sophomore Eric Lawrence combined with Majlut to form a dynamic midfield combo, fluidly knocking the ball along the back line and within the Georgia State midfield. In the early minutes, there was hardly a third touch on the ball. All the Panthers were doing their best to move the ball forward and get possession to their marksmen, sophomore Gimel Gordon and junior Ayokunle Lumpkin.

Sophomore Victor Nkhoma and freshman Evan Scott also contributed to the attack off the bench, adding a much-needed spark to an increasingly frustrated team as the first half wore on. Eric Lawrence took more control as the half wore on, using good body position to shield and ping the ball throughout the Georgia State squad with a powerful left foot. He would go on to find three shots, putting one on goal.

Gordon did well to pull runs out wide and receive the ball on either flank, while Lumpkin dominated Upstate's middle defensive third, taking ball after ball on his chest with pin-point control. He typically found himself surrounded by two or three defenders, but was easily able to find supporting Panthers like Reyes on the flank or defender, sophomore Alex Vivanco storming forward from his right-back position.

In the 52nd minute, Lumpkin took up his usual center striker position and flicked on a nice kick by the goalkeeper Vincent Foermer. Gordon took it in stride, the ball stuck to his foot, beat one defender in the corner and cut the ball back to make an incisive run into the Upstate penalty area. A trailing defender made a desperate attempt at the ball and only ended up getting Gordon's calf instead.

Vivanco was given the opportunity to put his team ahead at the penalty spot and he converted to give the Panthers the advantage. Vivanco had an especially busy day, playing more like a wing-back at times, making long powerful runs down the Georgia State right side, bringing attackers into play and launching crosses into the box. He finished with three shots, one on goal and three crosses.

Georgia State continued to dominate, holding the ball well and operating largely through Eric Lawrence and Lumpkin. They simply lacked a cut-and-thrust in the final third and Upstate often outnumbered the Panthers once Gordon or Lumpkin gained possession up field.

Nkhoma and Scott came on around the 67th minute to put the game away, but USC-Upstate had other ideas.

After nearly conceding on a sloppy piece of play by the Georgia State defense, the Spartans took advantage of the Panthers' tired legs and minds with a cross into the box that wasn't cleared and eventually was put away by Upstate to equalize in the 73rd minute.

After the goal, the Panthers appeared fatigued, perhaps the after-effects of a hardcore conditioning program, and never looked like they were going to score at the end of the second half.

Nkhoma held up the ball for Scott to run off of him, but the two didn't have enough time to develop an understanding. Even when they did find space in the Spartan's half, the midfield runs that seemed relentless in the first half were nonexistent by the end of the second. Majlut became more and more active toward the end of the game, earning a few free-kicks, but it was too little too late for the Panthers.

Georgia State finished the second half with seven shots to Upstate's three and they took the match to sudden-death overtime.

The Panthers dominated the first period of overtime, taking seven shots, two crosses and earning one corner. Again, Vivanco was extremely active with passing, defending, dribbling, shooting, and crossing. Vivanco put the best chance of overtime just high in the 97th minute off a Majlut shot. Majlut also regained some of his legs in overtime and was fairly active offensively.

Both teams seemed content to leave the game with one point during a lackluster second period of overtime. At the death, Gordon beat two defenders and shot wide, deflected off an Upstate defender. The Panthers would then contrive to fail to convert on three straight corners and the referee mercifully whistled the game dead.

In the Panthers' defense, Upstate looked impotent in the offense from the second half on and never really looked to challenge a dominant Georgia State back line. Transfer Michael Nwiloh and sophomore Peter Vania put in especially excellent performances in the defense.

Coach Surrency was unavailable for comment after the game.

Georgia State will test their unblemished record away from home against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 10 in Boca Raton, Fla.