Pirates Win 3-0 Over Florida Southern In Soccer Season Opener

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Armstrong Atlantic State women's soccer squad opened up the 2009 season successfully with a 3-0 victory over visiting Florida Southern on Saturday afternoon in the 2009 AASU Pirate Soccer Shootout at AT&T Field, completing the first day of Shootout action.

The Pirates (1-0) took a quick one-goal lead in the seventh minute as freshman Kristina Pascutti took a turnover and split a pair of Florida Southern (0-1) defenders for a breakaway goal in the seventh minute. The score would stay at 1-0 until halftime, with the Pirates holding just a slim one-shot edge at intermission, 6-5.

In the second half, however, the Pirates enjoyed a 10-3 shot advantage and took control of the match after sophomore Þórdís Pétursdóttir's shot from 25 yards out found the upper right corner in the 51st minute, giving AASU a 2-0 lead. Freshman Morgan Mitchell then headed in a corner kick from sophomore Erin O'Rourke in the 69th minute to extend the lead to 3-0.

Sophomore Tracey Mitchell made three saves for the Pirates in net, including a spectacular save on a line-drive shot from Florida Southern forward Kerri-Ann Brown. Florida Southern goalkeeper Martina Tangen Billing made one save in net for the Mocs.

Brown had three shots, two on goal, as the Mocs finished the day with eight shots. AASU tallied 16 shots on the day, led by four from Pétursdóttir. AASU enjoyed a 9-7 edge on corner kicks.

In the day's first contest, GCSU used a goal in each half to pick up a 2-0 victory over Queens (N.C.). Daria Owen struck first in the 21st minute off of a corner kick by Karen Bonilla to put the Bobcats up, 1-0. The Bobcats outshot the Royals, 11-5, in the first half.

In the second half, GCSU kept up the pressure, outshooting Queens 7-1, and finally putting in an insurance goal in the 81st minute from Jessica Newland's goal from just outside the box. The Bobcats finished the match with an 18-6 advantage in shots.

Jessica Binkowski picked up the shutout in goal for GCSU, making three saves. Queens goalkeeper Kristen Kornacki made three saves as well.

Play in the 2009 AASU Pirate Shootout wraps up on Sunday with host AASU taking on Queens at 11:00 a.m., then Florida Southern facing GCSU at 1:30 p.m. at AT&T Field.