FOLEY, Ala. – Georgia State and Texas State each earned victories in the first round of the 2023 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Tournament at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex in Foley, Ala.
 
Georgia State (9-4-6) advances to face second-seeded Old Dominion at 1:30 p.m. CT Wednesday. Texas State (9-6-4) advances to face top-seeded South Alabama at 4:00 p.m. CT. Both matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
In the first match of the day, seventh-seeded Georgia State scored a late goal in the 74th minute to prevail over tenth-seeded Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles outshot the Panthers 9-6 throughout the match with five shots on goal.
 
Second Team All-Conference goalkeeper Jaddah Foos earned the shutout in goal for the Panthers with five saves during the match. Olivia Shaw found the back of the net for her third goal of the year with a cross from Elena Diaz that proved to be the game-winner, 1-0.
 
The second match of the opening day featured the eighth-seeded Bobcats from Texas State against the nineth-seeded Ragin Cajuns from Louisiana. Freshman goalkeeper Caitlyn Draper provided seven saves for the Bobcats in goal to preserve the 2-1 win.
 
Texas State struck first in the 29th minute as a cross rebounded off a Louisiana defender onto the shins of Olivia Wright who scored her seventh goal of the year. The Bobcats took a 1-0 advantage into the half as a move inside the box gave Mady Soumare her fourth goal of the season to put Texas State ahead 2-0.
 
The unrelenting attack of Louisiana paid off in the 88th minute as Hailly Waterhouse scored her third goal of the season with an assist from Sisley Stephens to cut the deficit to one. The Bobcats held strong defensively to earn the program’s first win in the tournament since 2018.