KENNESAW, Ga. – After 110 minutes of hard-fought action, the Georgia State women's team battled in-state rival Kennesaw State to a 1-1 draw Monday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. Ashley Nagy gave the Panthers an early lead but a second half equalizer by the Owls wrapped up the scoring.

“It was a hard fought match between two rivals but I think we have more soccer in us then we showed tonight,” head coach Derek Leader said. “Kennesaw State posed some threats, but we had some break away chances but were only able to convert one. It has been a difficult opening weekend and now we have to turn our attention to Murray State this Friday on the road.”

The coaching staff's star of the game was senior midfielder Lindsay Leonardo. “Lindsay played the best tonight. She was voted man of the match by the staff. Her defensive coverage was excellent and she provided a vital link from defense to attack.”

In the first 20 minutes neither team was able to steer a shot on goal.

• GSU took the first two shots of the game in quick succession following a corner kick but Ashley Nagy's shot and Whitney Ravan's header were block and wide, respectively.
• The Owls responded with a shot by Marit Sandtroeen in the 12th minute but it was too high and flew harmlessly over the crossbar.

Things changed over the next three minutes when both goalkeepers were forced to make saves to keep the match scoreless.

• Mali Kokvoll fired a shot on target for Kennesaw State but GSU keeper Christa Fox was there for the save.
• Owl goalkeeper Mady Carter then made a pair of saves on shots by Rebecca Copeland and Nagy to keep the game scoreless.

Georgia State took a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute when Nagy got behind the Owl defense. Jenna Moore found Nagy with a great ball over the top and Nagy was able to chip Kennesaw State keeper Carter to give the Panthers the lead.

Kennesaw State nearly equalized less than a minute later but Shannon Driscoll's shot was just wide of the left post. No shots were attempted in the final six minutes and the first half ended with GSU leading 1-0.

• At the break, the Owls held a 6-5 edge in shots and both teams attempted one corner kick.

During the first 15 minutes of the second half, Kennesaw State was dominating procession and applying pressure to the Panthers' defense. Fox was called upon to make another save in 54th minute on a long shot by Julia Nelson.

• GSU nearly doubled its lead in the 66th minute when Nagy got behind the Owl defense on a ball over the top. She was able to get her shot over the goalkeeper but it was slightly too high and skimmed off the crossbar.

In the 71st minute, Kennesaw State's pressure paid off when Iyani Hughes scored off a rebound to tie the game 1-1. Driscoll fired a long shot from the right that Fox was able to save but the rebound fell right to Hughes who tapped it in at the far post.

Four minutes later Nagy nearly gave the Panthers the lead again. She got behind the defense and was one-on-one with Kennesaw State's Carter. Nagy got her shot past Carter but it was just wide of the right post and game remained tied 1-1.

Nagy had another great chance in the 86th minute when she got behind the Owl defense and found herself once again one-on-one with the keeper. However, Carter was quick off her line to deny the Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Kennesaw State had the final chance of regulation when Nelson tested Fox in the 87th minute but the Panther goalkeeper made the save to keep the scored tied 1-1 after regulation.

• In the second half, GSU attempted four shots while the Owls fired six. Kennesaw State took two of the three corners.
• Panther with a 5-3 save advantage after 90 minutes of action.

Through the first 9 minutes of overtime neither team created a quality scoring chance. Kennesaw State final got a look at goal in the 100th minute but Mali Kokvoll's shot was wide of the GSU goal.

In the third minute of double overtime, Driscoll nearly found the back of the net but she put her attempt wide from inside six yards out. In the 106th minute, Kennesaw State's Brittney Reed was shown a red card after receiving her second yellow card of the match.

Neither team was able to create a scoring chance in the final four minutes of double overtime and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. The Panthers and Owls are now both 0-1-1 this season.

• GSU's Christa Fox earned the draw after recording five saves in her first appearance for the Panthers this year.
• Kennesaw State's Mady Carter finished with three saves and she is now 0-1-1 this season.
• Georgia State's next match is Friday, Aug. 29 on the road against Murray State. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. in Murray, Ky.