ATLANTA – Georgia State women’s soccer fell just short of victory by a score of 3-2 to Northeastern Sunday afternoon at the Panthersville Soccer Complex. The Panthers fall to 6-12-1 (3-6-1 CAA) while the Huskies move to 9-8-1 (5-4-1 CAA) with one game left to play in the regular season.

Forwards Sarah Bennett and Jewel Evans netted the two goals for the Panthers to elevate their season total to eight goals each. Sophomore defender Alyssia Feronti supplied the assist on both scores for Georgia State and senior goalkeeper Kellianne Collins registered five saves on the day.  Despite the loss, the Panthers held the edge in shooting with a 15-13 mark against Northeastern.

“We’ve given ourselves enough in all our conference games to have much better results,” said head coach Domenic Martelli. “To have the different games go the way they have this year, there is no way we should not have had more wins because of the level of talent this team has.”

Georgia State came out strong controlling play with two close scoring opportunities in the early minutes of the first half. Both times Evans fielded a pass from midfield and outran the defender to leave her one on one with Northeastern’s goalkeeper. Unfortunately, the keeper came out to make sliding saves and take the ball away from Evans on both her chances.

The Panthers kept up the pressure and tallied the first goal of the match in the 23^rd minute. On the play, Feronti dribbled down the left side and lofted a cross into center. No one was there to finish the cross but Bennett gained control of the defensive clear just outside the 18-yard box. She buried the shot into the lower right corner of the net to give Georgia State the 1-0 lead.

The Huskies answered just over six minutes later with a goal from Veronica Napoli. Despite a shot on goal from Feronti in the remaining minutes of first half, the game would stand tied 1-1 heading into halftime with the shots even at 7-7.

After the break, Feronti created another chance at a score when she powered a shot from 30 yards out. Her ball just missed the top of the net as it hit the cross bar and was pushed up and over the goal by the Northeastern keeper.

Georgia State landed the go ahead goal at the 53:52 minute mark which began on a corner kick from Feronti. As the kick sailed into the box, Evans got a foot on the ball and sent it over the goal line to put the Panthers back on top, 2-1.

Ten minutes later, Northeastern evened the score once again with goal from Hannah O’Donnell. Greta Samuelsdottir gave the Huskies the lead with a goal in the 80^th minute.  

With 10 minutes left to play, Evans and Bennett each attempted to find the equalizer with shots on goal but neither could find the back of the net. In the final minutes, the tying goal was in sight as Feronti had a breakaway down the left sideline. Before she could get the shot off, she was taken down by a Northeastern defender to take away the opportunity on goal and secure the 3-2 victory for the Huskies.

 "The opportunity we had to get into the conference tournament with victories today and then Sunday hurts because we did enough to win,” said Martelli. “This team was good enough and played well enough to be in the top six. To have so many things taken out from under our feet this year just takes away from the results we should have had.”

Georgia State wraps up its regular season Sunday, Oct. 30 on the road at UNC Wilmington. Fans can follow the action via live stats at www.GeorgiaStatesSports.com

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