Aug. 13, 2006
The Owls opened up the exhibition season in strong fashion as they used three, second half goals to down Georgia Southern, 3-1, at the KSU Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon before 250 sun-drenched fans.
Kennesaw State (1-0-0) dominated play throughout the match, but found themselves trailing at halftime when Georgia Southern's Ashley Toussaint slipped through a pair of defenders in the 41st minute and beat a charging Staci Pugh for the early lead. The goal was the only shot the Eagles managed during the first half.
The Eagles' (0-1-0) lead didn't last long after halftime as Mandy Nolin took a pass from Laura Tucker and beat GSU goalkeeper Lauren Santos on a through ball that Nolin put in the bottom left corner.
Tucker would give the Owls the lead for good in the 64th minute when newcomer Maylee Attin-Johnson sent a perfectly placed ball over the top of the Eagles defense to Tucker who gathered the ball dribbled and fired a shot into the bottom left corner for a 2-1 lead.
Nolin would provide the final goal for the Owls just :22 seconds later when she took a pass from Annie Phillips in the 18-yard box, turned and lasered a goal to the bottom left corner.
"It was a very pleasing effort today," said head coach Rob King. "We were able to play everyone and it was a good exhibition match."
The Owls controlled the action from the outset with 16 shots in the first half and out-shot the Eagles 24-3 for the match. Kennesaw State also had an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks.
"We played well in both halves," added King. "We made one mistake late in the first half and Georgia Southern capitalized, but we kept our composure and gathered more opportunities and put our chances away in the second half."
The Owls play their final exhibition match on Saturday evening when they host Auburn at 7:00 p.m.
