AMERICUS, Ga. – Georgia Southwestern State University women's soccer cut a two-goal deficit in half late in the second period and nearly found the equalizer minutes later, but Auburn University at Montgomery held on for a 2-1 victory Saturday evening at Hurricane Field.
Newcomer
Ines Balaghni scored her first goal of the season in the 79th minute to pull the Lady Hurricanes within one before
Taelyn Townsend hit the post less than three minutes later as GSW (1-1-1) suffered its first loss of the season.
Saturday marked the first women's soccer regular-season match between the two schools.
GSW generated the first opportunities of the match, earning a pair of corner kicks in the opening five minutes before
Riley Pearson put the Lady Hurricanes' first shot on goal in the 19th minute.
AUM (2-0-2) broke through at the 27:18 mark when Natahley Sabens scored off an assist from Chloe Wallace to give the Warhawks a 1-0 advantage.
The Lady Hurricanes continued to create chances following the goal.
Anna Wheatley put an attempt on frame in the 40th minute and Pearson followed with another in the 44th, but AUM goalkeeper Leslie Azouer stopped both to send the Warhawks into halftime with a one-goal lead.
GSW held a 6-4 advantage in shots and put three attempts on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
The Warhawks doubled their advantage less than five minutes into the second period. Gabby Benavidez set up Eva Hendriks for a goal at the 49:28 mark that pushed the AUM lead to 2-0.
The Lady Hurricanes began mounting their comeback midway through the half.
Charlotte Reynolds forced a save from Azouer in the 66th minute before
Zoie St. John put another attempt on target in the 73rd.
GSW finally broke through at the 78:29 mark. Reynolds connected with Balaghni, who converted for her first goal as a Lady Hurricane and trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with more than 11 minutes remaining.
GSW came within inches of tying the match less than three minutes later when Townsend's attempt in the 82nd minute struck the right post.
The Lady Hurricanes were unable to generate another shot over the closing minutes as AUM held on for the one-goal victory.
GSW finished with a 13-8 advantage in shots and put six attempts on goal compared with four for the Warhawks. The Lady Hurricanes also held a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
Pearson, St. John, Townsend and Balaghni recorded two shots apiece to lead a GSW attack that saw nine different players attempt a shot. Pearson put both of her attempts on frame.
Alana Beddow played all 90 minutes in goal for the Lady Hurricanes and finished with two saves.
Next Up
- GSW travels to Valdosta State University on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. match.
