Box Score MILLEDGEVILLE, GA – Freshman Anna Griessler recorded the first goal of her Moccasin career, but Armstrong State got a go-ahead goal from Candace Cosby midway through the second half to take a 2-1 decision over Florida Southern on Sunday afternoon.
Playing the second of a 2-game trip to Georgia, the Moccasins faced off against one of the perennial favorites from the Peach Belt Conference, and fell behind in the 27th minute on an own goal. With the Pirates (2-2) earning a corner kick, Michelle Allen sent the ball into the box for Olivia DeJong, but the ball was re-directed by two defenders into the net, putting the Pirates ahead 1-0.
Griessler pulled the Mocs even in the 43rd minute with a shot taken from near the end line that bounced off the post and goalkeeper Morgan Luckie. Sophomore Izzy Loyd assisted on the scoring play, and the teams went to halftime knotted at 1-1.
Early in the second half, both teams nearly scored again. The Pirates had three shots in quick succession in the 53rd minute, with sophomore goalkeeper Helena Norrstrom saving one by McKenzie Anderson before a follow-up by Amanda Green was blocked. Anderson then had another attempt seconds later but hit the crossbar. The Moccasins then had a near-goal of their own in the 57th minute when senior Caroline Evers hit the post.
Armstrong's next shot on goal resulted in the go-ahead tally by Cosby, who took a long feed from Jenny Allen down the right side and converted it at the 65:43 mark.
Late in the match, Florida Southern had a flurry of shots that put Armstrong under pressure, but on each one, Luckie was up to the task. The senior goalkeeper stopped shots by senior Taylor Cox in the 86th minute and senior Gianna Conte in the 87th. She then denied sophomore Madi Colaw in the 90th when the Mocs almost went to overtime for the second straight game.
On the day, Armstrong out-shot Florida Southern 14-10, though it was only 8-7 in favor of the Pirates in the second half. Luckie made five saves for Armstrong, with three of them in the final five minutes, and Norrstrom made four for Florida Southern.
The Moccasins return to Lakeland for their 2015 home opener on Wednesday night at 7 p.m., when they open Sunshine State Conference play against Nova Southeastern.
