University of Delaware Athletics
Hens Suffer Heartbreaking 2-1 Overtime Loss to Georgia State (Sept. 25, 2011)
9/25/2011 1:04:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Boxscore
NEWARK, Del. – After having its game Friday night get cancelled, the University of Delaware women's soccer team truly opened Colonial Athletic Association Sunday afternoon with Georgia State University.
Unfortunately, the game didn't go the way the Blue Hens would have liked, falling 2-1 in a heartbreaking overtime loss.
The Panthers avenged a loss in the 2010 season to the Hens as Sarah Bennett put away the game-winner with 1:50 left in the first overtime period.
“It's a tough loss,” said Delaware head coach Scott Grzenda, now in his 22nd year as the program's only coach. “We were rained out on Friday, I think that played a little bit into our psyche. The girls were very excited to play that game, so it was a little bit of a let down.
Georgia State (4-7-0, 1-1-0 CAA) took the lead in the 64th minute as Whitney Ravan got lose in the Hens defensive third and chipped in a goal.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Delaware, which slipped to 4-4-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the CAA.
But the Hens answered back just five minutes later as Ali Miller sailed in a 20-yard shot, beating Panther goalkeeper Kellianne Collins to the right post. Miller received her pass from Stacie Dulkis, who sent the assist in from the left side near the corner kick area.
“I was running down the sideline and I tried to cross it in but Ali Miller was wide open and with her shot from far out I know that she was the perfect person to get it to,” said Dulkis, who tallied her first point of the season. “I just saw her wide open, gave it to her and she had a beautiful goal far post.”
Both teams challenged late in the game, including two quick Panther shots. Delaware senior goalkeeper Breanna Stemler, who finished the day with four stops, made back-to-back saves in a short span to force the overtime. Both keepers made one save during the overtime period.
Delaware had an opportunity in the early minutes of the first half as senior Amy Pickard was hauled down in the Georgia State penalty box. The officials awarded the Hens a penalty kick, but Miller, aiming at the left post, slid her attempt just wide of the mark.
The Hens held a narrow 13-10 advantage in shots, putting six on goal. Both teams were called offsides twice and the opposing squads took seven corner kicks each. Georgia State was whistled for 11 fouls, while Delaware was called on seven occasions, including just two in the second half.
Grzenda is seeking his 200th career win and needs just two victories to reach that mark. He and the Hens will try to close in on that mark Sept. 29 with a trip to Boston to take on CAA foe Northeastern. The Thursday afternoon game is set for 3:30 p.m. at Parsons Field.
