Women's Soccer 9/7/2008 12:00:00 AM Cavan Fosnes/Sports Communications

Panthers Down BSC 3-0

Senior Kay Harbrueger scored the game-winning goal and added an assist to freshman Emily Dover to lead the Georgia State Panthers over Birmingham-Southern 3-0.

Stephanie Cuccia scored her first goal of the season in the win.

The win moves the Panthers to 5-0-0 on the season, the best start in school history. Harbrueger's goal is her seventh on the year, good for tops in the CAA.

The Georgia State victory did not come easily, however. Birmingham-Southern dueled the Panthers until Kay Harbrueger's goal in the 72nd minute. Harbrueger had a goal taken away in the first half for pushing off.

“Birmingham-Southern played us better than anyone this year,” said Coach Domenic Martelli. “They were very organized, well-coached, and composed. It was a battle the whole the way.”

Georgia State added to their total in the 80th minute with Emily Dover's second goal of the season. Kay Harbrueger found the freshman on a beautiful cross that Dover was able to tuck away with the left foot.

“I saw Kay coming down the sideline and had a feeling she would center the ball,” said Dover. “I waited for it, and was able to get a left foot on it. The goal was pretty exciting, much better than my first goal.” Dover refers to her first goal of the season, and her career, which caromed off of a Jacksonville State defender before finding the back of the net.

Stephanie Cuccia finished the scoring by depositing her first goal of the season. Cuccia took advantage of a rebounded Kari Quinn strike in the 84th minute.

Sophomore Heidi Blankenship registered her first shutout of the season against Birmingham-Southern. Blankenship went the distance with four crucial saves.

“It feels good to finish a shutout,” said Blankenship. “The team is getting comfortable in the back. We had a great, combined effort today to hold them scoreless.”

“We played a good team today,” said Martelli. “That's what we should take away from the game. We had to play with persistence when nothing was going our way. We know that if we continue to neutralize the other team, we will come away with a win.”

Kay Harbrueger continues to lead the CAA in goals scored with seven, and points with 17. Harbrueger's goal moves her into seventh on the all-time goals scored list with 23. She also takes over sixth place, alone, with her 18th career assist.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#31 Heidi Blankenship: GK; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#9 Stephanie Cuccia: F; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#5 Emily Dover: F; 5' 8"; Freshman

#4 Kay Harbrueger: F; 5' 8"; Senior

#22 Kari Quinn: D; 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#31 Heidi Blankenship
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: GK

#9 Stephanie Cuccia
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: F

#5 Emily Dover
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: F

#4 Kay Harbrueger
: 5' 8"; Senior
: F

#22 Kari Quinn
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: D