Sept. 24, 2008

Box Score

Statesboro, Ga. - Georgia Southern scored a penalty kick goal in the first half, then put the game away with a breakaway goal with under two minutes to play as the Eagles took a 2-0 victory over USC Upstate in non-conference men's soccer action Wednesday at Eagle Field.

Upstate fell to 1-6-0 on the year with the loss and will return to action Sunday afternoon at 2:00 against Presbyterian at County University Soccer Stadium. It marks just the second home game of the season for the Spartans, following the season and home opener against Brewton-Parker on Aug. 29. Georgia Southern improved to 2-4-0 on the year with the win.

"I thought that we fought hard to the end," said Upstate head coach Greg Hooks. " A couple of mistakes made the difference. We obviously have to improve if we want to change our fate. There were several guys who played well. Hopefully getting back home (Sunday), with such a young team, will help."

After the teams battled to a scoreless draw for the first 30 minutes of the game, Georgia Southern caught a break when an Eagle was taken down in the box by an Upstate player and was awarded a penalty kick. Fredrik Langseth took the kick for the Eagles and converted the try to give Georgia Southern a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute. The penalty kick was the third allowed by the Spartans this season with two being converted.

Upstate had a decent scoring opportunity with less than seven minutes to play in the half when Alex Garcev took a pass from Erkan Yildirim 21 yards out and ripped a shot to the left post. Georgia Southern goalkeeper Chris Cantrell made a diving save, deflecting the ball over the end line for a Spartan corner kick. Upstate was unable to generate a scoring opportunity off of the corner.

The teams combined for nine shots in the first half, Georgia Southern leading the way with six and Upstate taking three. Cantrell made two saves on both shots on goal by the Spartans, while Upstate keeper Patrick Regna made two saves on three Eagle shots on goal.

Georgia Southern had an opportunity to open up a 2-0 led in the 54th minute when Danny Hall stole the ball from an Upstate player and made a through ball pass to Jon Cox. Cox pounded a shot towards the goal, but Regna made a diving stop to his right to save the goal. The Eagles had another golden opportunity in the 63rd minute when Abdigani Abdulahi took a pass and got in behind the Spartan defense. He ripped a shot, but Regna again made the diving save, this time to his left, to thwart the attempt.

Georgia Southern opened a 2-0 lead with just under 10 minutes to play when Jon Kinsler? played a through ball pass to Daniel Smith who slid behind the Upstate defense and faced Regna one-on-one. With Regna charging off his line, Smith placed the shot just out of reach and into the back of the net for the 2-0 Eagle lead, effectively putting the game away.