By: by Jessica Steadman
Box Score Photo Gallery
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Owls picked up their first win of the 2009 season on Friday night when they came-from-behind with a pair of second half goals by Alyssa Mahan to defeat Francis Marion, 2-1, at the KSU Soccer Complex.
Kristin Kranick started things off for the Owls (1-1-0) with a shot on goal in the fifth minute of the first half. Moments later, the Francis Marion (0-3-0) offense began to click as Angela Salem scored her first goal of the year on a cross from Jennifer Dyer to put the Patriots up 1-0 in the 10th minute.
Kennesaw State nearly tied the game when Lexi Hastings sailed a corner kick that landed in front of the Patriots goal and was batted around by several KSU players in a wild sequence that saw three close-range shots blocked by the FMU defense including a Brittany Vining header that was saved by the Francis Marion keeper, Casey Durham.
The Owls goalkeeper, Staci Pugh, stopped the Patriots from scoring when she made a diving save that stopped a Jennifer Dyer shot from 18 yards out. Both teams would have several more shots , but none threatening the back of the net as the game remained, 1-0, at the break.
“I am really proud of our girls because were able to come back from a goal down,” said Kennesaw State head coach Rob King. “I told them at halftime that we were already rallying and that if we kept things up we would get right back in the match.”
Bridget Gaughan and the Owls defense stepped up, stopping a corner kick in the early minutes of the second half as they set the stage for the Kennesaw State offense to make their first impact of the young season.
The Black and Gold tied the game in the 60th minute when Alyssa Mahan scored the Owls first goal of the season, unassisted, on a shot 10-yards out to the bottom right of the goal past Durham.
Six minutes later, Mahan scored again, this time with help from midfielder Maylee Attin-Johnson, who sent a cross to Mahan that she put away into the top left corner of the net, giving the Owls a one goal advantage.
“It was a pretty amazing night,” said Mahan. “The goal with Maylee (Attin-Johnson) worked out great. We practice that play and it was great to see it result in a goal.”
The Kennesaw State defense only allowed the Patriots to take one shot in the second half as the Owls out shot Francis Marion, 15-8, in the game. Pugh picked up her first win of the year, tallying four saves.
Kennesaw State is back in action on Sunday afternoon when they take on No. 17-ranked Minnesota at 1:00 p.m. at the KSU Soccer Complex.
