Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: GA State Women Fight VCU to Scoreless Draw

Kellianne Collins Georgia State Junior goalkeeper earned her second shutout this season, stopping seven shots, to lead the Georgia State women’s soccer team to a 0-0 double-overtime tie against VCU (4-6-4, 0-4-2) in Panthersville Sunday afternoon. The scoreless result moves the Panthers to 10-3-2 on the season and 3-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play.

Georgia State defense made an impressive showing on the back line, accounting for their seventh shutout in just 15 games this season.
The Panther's registered nine total shots, with only two shots on goal.

“Today’s game really showed strength of the Colonial Athletic association and how Sunday games can be such battles,” said head coach Domenic Martelli. “When you look at the results throughout the whole conference this weekend in Sunday’s games, it is always going to be anybody’s game. No matter what the records are, no matter where we stand, no matter where the games are; any team is able to capture the win. Today, at home, getting a point in the tie is very important. I think both teams had ample opportunities. We were a toe-poke away from three or four goals today. Our defense really stepped up today to land the shutout. Everyone on the back line did a great job against some very athletic forwards.”

The Panthers first scoring opportunity came midway through the first half when they put together a great series of passing to result in a shot for sophomore midfielder Jocelyn Baker. Unfortunately, she could not garner enough power behind her shot and it was just wide right of the Rams’ goal.

VCU fired a shot on the Georgia State goal less than two minutes after the Panther scoring opportunity but Collins scooped up the ball to deny the Rams a point and both teams entered halftime scoreless.

Early in the second half, GSU was awarded a free kick serviced by freshman defender Alyssia Feronti. Feronti’s kick soared over the heads of the VCU defenders but missed the net a few inches to the right.

Georgia State found the back of the net at the 61:49 mark with a successful shot from Baker, but the score was not counted due to an offside call against Georgia State. Baker was given another scoring chance off a free kick from junior defender Bri Cagle. Baker got a head on the ball from Cagle but VCU’s goalkeeper made the save and the score remained 0-0 as regulation came to an end.

Both teams came out fighting for a win in the first overtime. VCU encountered a scoring chance when forward Azania dribbled past the Panther defenders to place herself one on one with Collins. Azania fired a shot but Collins made a sliding save to deny the Rams the game-winner.

Despite four total shots taken in the second overtime, neither team was able to find the game-winning goal and the match came to an end with the score tied 0-0.

“We did well enough today to pull off a tie but there is more ahead,” said Martelli. “We have five games left, the next four on the road. It is very important for us to get as many points as we can.
Our ultimate goal of making the conference tournament is still within our grasp but it is really up to us. It is not going to come to us on its own. We have to get hungrier in the box. Create more chances up front and get those necessary goals.”

The Georgia State women’s soccer team will spend two weekends on the road on beginning this Friday, Oct. 15 as it travels to Maryland to look for its fifth conference win against Towson.