Since 2006, the Georgia Southern Women’s soccer team (9-3-1, 4-1) has not been able to win an in-season contest when paired against Georgia State (5-6-4, 3-1-1). The only win the Eagles have been able to bring in against the Panthers was an exhibition game just last season.

However, 2014 has started a new chapter. The Eagles had a chance to redeem themselves in Atlanta on Sunday as they sit atop the Sun Belt Conference standings. Unfortunately, when you are playing a rivalry game, anything can happen. After a very physical game, the Eagles fell to the Panthers 2-0.

Georgia Southern vs. Georgia State

The scoring started early for Georgia State. Senior forward Whitney Ravan, Georgia State’s leading scorer, got an assist from junior defender Jenna Moore and sent it past the Eagle’s redshirt senior goalkeeper Katie Merson to put the Panthers up 1-0 after only 11 minutes of play.

It didn’t stop there. After nine more minutes of play, Ravan scored yet another goal, giving her seven on the season. The ball was placed at her feet by junior midfielder Lauren Harriman and sent past Merson once again in the 20th minute making it a 2-0 game which would hold steady going into halftime.

The second half was a little more quiet. Both teams continued to battle in this rivalry, exchanging shots and fouls. This was a tough game with both teams reaching double digits in the fouls column.

However, Georgia Southern posted a total of nine shots with only two on goal while Georgia State nearly doubled the Eagle’s shots with 16, having six of those on goal.

Merson had three saves in the contest but allowed two goals giving her her third loss on the season.

The Eagles travel to Mobile, Ala. on Friday to take on the South Alabama Jaguars, a team that also sits at the top of the Sun Belt.