April 16, 2009

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Owls scored first against the Georgia College & State University Bobcats but couldn't hold the lead the teams played to a 1-1 tie in a spring exhibition match on Thursday evening at the KSU Soccer Complex.

Kennesaw State quickly applied pressure on GC&SU as they just missed on a pair of scoring opportunities in the 8th and 19th minutes. Shelby Cosby grounded a shot just past the right goal post in the 8th minute and then had a shot tipped over the crossbar in the 19th minute as the Owls offense clicked early on in the match.

The Owls (1-0-1) got on the board in the 27th minute after an excellent corner kick by Caroline Austin wasn't controlled by the GC&SU goalkeeper who kicked the ball into the net for an own goal and a 1-0 KSU lead.

"We played hard, but not smart tonight," said Kennesaw State head coach Rob King. "The effort was there and I was pleased with that, but we had our opportunities and we just couldn't convert and we gave the ball away too much."

Stellar defense kept the Owls ahead as GC&SU applied pressure on Staci Pugh less than a minute later. A Bobcat breakaway forced Pugh to her left and when she deflected the shot, GC&SU's Megan McAlpin had her rebound shot blocked by the right-foot Jessica Kalonji who preserved the lead.

In the 36th minute, Kristin Marietta had a chance to give the Owls a two-goal lead, but her shot was deflected over the crossbar. A minute later Rachel Baer had a shot stopped as she blasted a point-blank laser at the Bobcats keeper who smother the blast.

The assault continued in the 38th minute as Cosby twice came close to scoring the second goal of the match. Cosby's first blast was blocked and the rebound came right back to her where her shot on the open goal fly high over the crossbar.

The Bobcats tied the game in the 56th minute when McAlpin beat Pugh with a hard low ball that beat the Owls keeper to her right side. GC&SU pressured Pugh over the final 35 minutes including another shot by McAlpin in the 78th minute that came within inches of giving the Bobcats the lead.

The Black and Gold had a tremendous opportunity to take the lead in the 64th minute when Katie Scott made an excellent move past two GC&SU defenders near the Bobcats goal and delivered a sharp pass to Cosby whose shot just sailed over the goal.

Baer and Marietta had opportunities in the final 15 minutes, but narrowly missed on the potential go-ahead goals. In the 85th minute, a header by Baer was stopped in what was the game's final scoring chance.

The Owls will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Alabama to participate in the Jacksonville State 7v7 Tournament.