ATLANTA- The Georgia State men's soccer team used a late goal from junior forward Ayokunle Lumpkin to earn a 2-2 tie against UAB on Wednesday night in Panthersville.
With six minutes left in regulation, Lumpkin placed a perfect shot into the right corner of the net to even the score at 2-2. Sophomore Gimel Gordon picked up an assist on the play after racing down the middle of the field and taking a shot that UAB keeper Chase Bullman made the initial save but Lumpkin found the rebound for the score.
The Panthers held on to earn a tie against UAB, who recently defeated Clemson, 2-1, on the road. Both coaches agreed before the game that if the game ended in a tie that no overtimes would be played.
"We gave everybody that was healthy an opportunity to play tonight as well as see some different lineups and players," said head coach Brett Surrency. The exhibition season is just working your way into the regular season and eventually into the conference season."
In the first half of play, GSU took an early lead in the 13th minute, when a foul was called just outside the box setting up a direct kick for sophomore Eric Lawrence. Lawrence fired a shot on goal that UAB keeper Tucker Stone made the initial save but the rebound came right to senior Joe Castaldo, who scored the goal to make it 1-0 Panthers.
"We are playing with these ADIDAS balls that have a lot of movement to them that really worked to our advantage in the first half," said Surrency. "One thing we do emphasize is when we have shots that we follow up on them and Joe Castaldo made a great reaction off the initial save."
The Blazers battled back by tying the score in the 30th minute, using a header from Kofi Gyawu to make the score 1-1. UAB's Reed Matte made a cross right in front of the net that Gyawu headed in to even the score in the first half.
In the second half, UAB found the back of the net again when midfielder Chris Williams blasted a shot outside the box into the right corner to give the Blazers a 2-1 advantage.
Freshman C.J. Cochran started for the Panthers in goal finishing the game with five saves, allowing just two goals.
"I thought C.J. Cochran did a really good job for us tonight and for his first game starting in goal, he made some nice stops," said Surrency.
Georgia State outshot the Blazers, 11-10, and held a 9-4 advantage in the second half.
"Our goal is to peak at the right time and play our best soccer come Sept. 25th when we start conference play and right now we are just taking those steps," said Surrency. "Those two goals showed our effort and work rate when it comes to rebounds giving us things we are really looking for in the end."
Georgia State returns to the pitch on Saturday for its final exhibition game against Lipscomb starting at 7 p.m. in Panthersville.
