CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's soccer team, continuing a more-often-than-not trend of stingy defensive play throughout the back half of the pre-Big South schedule, reaffirmed that reputation on Thursday evening in a head-to-head matchup with Sun Belt opponent Georgia State, committing just one costly error in the 69^th-minute of a heated bout.

Unfortunately for the Blue Hose, that aforementioned slipup would be the difference in the contest, allowing GSU to escape Martin Stadium with a 1-0 victory thanks to a penalty kick strike midway through the second frame.
 
FINAL SCORE: Georgia State, 1 – Presbyterian, 0
RECORDS: Presbyterian (0-5-2), Georgia State (4-1-2)
LOCATION: Edens Field at Martin Stadium (Clinton, S.C.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
While the PC offensive core struggled to generate any consistent momentum for the majority of the match – due partly to a Panther back line that had already secured three shutout wins prior to Thursday – the Blue Hose D and starting keeper Kelly Hall ensured that the visitors wouldn't sneak any goals by them after giving up a quartet of second-half strikes to The Citadel in their last appearance.

Unable to break through on 14 of their 15 shot attempts for the night, with the exception of the penalty kick-turned goal at the 68:12 stamp, Georgia State's steady attack was regularly thwarted by an eight-save performance by Hall, along with stellar play by starting defenders Kali Zmistowski, Lauren Clark, and Ella Williams. Similarly, Presbyterian's midfield starting unit of Gwen Keiser, Lindsey Malyszek, Hannah Austin, and Madison Hindman disoriented GSU just enough to keep the visitors at bay until the team's foul near the box that necessitated the game-deciding penalty boot.

Registering a pair of looks at the net after the Panthers accounted for the night's only score, neither Sofia Thomson nor Reyna Coston could find the right angle in the 74^th and 85^th minutes respectively, forced to take the one-score setback in the third result of the semester decided by one goal.
 
UP NEXT:
A home-heavy nonconference slate for the Blue Hose has since come and gone, as PC turns their attention to the final date on the calendar before league competition looms. Visiting Mississippi State in Starkville on Sunday afternoon, head coach Brian Purcell's group will search for a monumental win in what will be a first-time lockup.

Unbeaten through seven matches on the year, the Bulldogs and their formidable defense will meet PC with a total difference of 10-2 on the scoreboard after polishing off their fifth clean sheet of 2022 in a win over Southern Miss on Thursday to give them a 5-0-2 record.

Serving as Presbyterian's second-ever meeting against a Southeastern Conference representative since turning D-I, first touch in the Magnolia State will take place on Sept. 11 at 1:00 p.m.