Georgia Southern 3, Presbyterian 2 (2OT)
STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern picked up a hard-fought win over Presbyterian College on Tuesday night, 3-2, in two periods of overtime. Hunter Norton scored the game-winner with 1:56 left in the second overtime period while his brother, Reed Norton, posted a stunning goal in the first half.
The Eagles open league play on Sunday afternoon against Davidson at 2 p.m.
With the overtime win, Georgia Southern improved to 4-4-0 on the year, while Presbyterian College dropped to 3-4-0.
The Blue Hose drew first blood with a goal in the 15th minute. John Speed finished a cross from Josh Carter at 10 yards for PC’s first goal since Sept. 6. The shot on frame took a deflection off a Georgia Southern defender, allowing the ball to easily find its way past the keeper and into the net.
Reed Norton got the Eagles back on level terms just before the halftime break with an impressive individual effort. Norton dribbled past five defenders, bringing the ball from the flank near the corner flag to the top of the box and past the goalkeeper for the equalizing goal.
Presbyterian College, however, re-took the lead on a miscue by the Eagle defense. PC’s Ignacio Monchetti crossed the ball to the near post, where two Eagle defenders were on hand to deal with the situation. The defenders collided and the ball bounced into the goal for a 2-1 PC advantage.
The Eagles responded with pressure, searching for the equalizer.
They found their second equalizer of the night with 15 minutes remaining. Hunter Norton won a ball off the Blue Hose defense at the top of the box and dished a quick pass to Witt Carlisle, who struck it on the first touch into the net to tie the score at 2-2.
That goal sent the match into overtime for the first time in Georgia Southern’s 2013 campaign.
The teams went scoreless in the first period of extra time and the majority of the second until Hunter Norton handed the Eagles the win. He scored his third goal of the season off an assist by Ethan LaPan as the Eagles reach the .500 mark at 4-4. The goal came with just 1:56 left to play
Georgia Southern tallied 37 shots on the night, which ranks fifth in program history and was the most shots since 1997.
NC State 2, Davidson 0
RALEIGH, N.C. – Nick Surkamp netted a goal in each half to lead NC State to a 2-0 victory over Davidson in nonconference men’s soccer action Tuesday evening at Dail Stadium.
The Pack grabbed the early advantage when Surkamp followed up an Alex Martinez shot from just inside the box that caromed off the right post.
At the 55:29 mark, Surkamp added his second goal of the contest and fourth of the season on an assist from Holden Fender.
Davidson (4-3-1), which had a number of scoring chances, just missed making it a one-goal game in the 73rd minute, but State’s keeper, Fabian Otte, turned away an Alan Reiter blast with a diving save to maintain the shutout.
Despite the setback, Jake Keator led the Wildcats with four shots off the bench, including two on goal.
NC State (4-1-1) held a 14-13 edge in shots, while Davidson finished with a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks. Both keepers recorded five saves on the night.
Davidson will continue its season-long four-game road trip with a 2 p.m. contest at SoCon foe Georgia Southern on Sunday afternoon.