Georgia State (8-8-1) was sluggish from the start in a 4-1 loss to the Incarnate Word Cardinals (5-5-1) Saturday night at the GSU Soccer Complex.
The Panthers’ loss breaks their three game win streak and gives the team a 6-2 record at home this season.
Incarnate Word took an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute with a goal by freshman forward Ben Conway, his second of the season.
The Panthers attacked shortly after with a header attempt by Stephen McGill, but the Cardinal’s Jarred Kahan made a nice save to stop McGill’s shot.
In the 35th minute, the Cardinal’s Uros Ceglaj scored on a double assist, tasting the net for the first time this season and giving Incarnate Word a 2-0 lead.
After a cleared corner kick, Pinal crossed to Alex De La Garza who tapped it to Ceglaj. Ceglaj then got around Panther goalie Tyler Prince to score.
Georgia State took seven shots and five corner kicks in the first half, but was unable to come away with any points. Incarnate Word had only five shots and only one corner kick.
The Cardinal’s resumed their scoring blitzkrieg with an unassisted goal by Sophomore forward Dylan Kelly in the 52nd minute, giving the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.
Georgia State came out very aggressive in the second half.
For example, Bo Stroup took about a thirty-yard shot in the 49th minute that Kahan had to jump to save. A free kick from freshman Aaron Jones was also saved in the 68th minute.
In the 73rd minute, Stephen McGill had what looked like a promising breakaway before falling just outside the 18-yard box, leaving him unable to get a shot out.
However, the Panthers could not manage to score more than once on a goal by redshirt freshman Neil Rajendran in the 68th minute.
Rajendran was barely inside the 18-yard box before launching a rocket into the top left of the net to make the score 3-1.
Georgia State pushed hard after Rajendran’s goal to come back, but it left the panthers open for a counter attack.
Incarnate Word’s De La Garza retaliated to score his fifth goal of the season in the 82nd minute off of an assist by Vincent Bailey, bringing the final score to 4-1.
Placide Buduri passed the rock to Bailey, who then passed to De La Garza on the breakaway that saw three Cardinals and two panthers, including the goalkeeper.
Kahan ended with eight saves on 15 shots, while Prince had four saves on 12 shots.
Georgia State also had a massive advantage in corner kicks: 13-2.
The Panthers return to action Nov. 5 at the University of North Carolina before returning home for their final game of the season on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. against Belmont.
