University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Soccer Earns Draw With Mexico Full National Team
April 11, 2010 | Soccer
The Bulldogs got off to a slow start against Mexico, allowing the first goal off a long clearance as the player was able to beat two Georgia defenders and finish the chance for the 1-0 lead. Mexico’s second goal came off a scoop pass over the Georgia defense that left a player open on a breakaway, and she sent it past keeper Ashley Baker to put the squad up 2-0.
With each side only making four subs per half, interim head coach Robin Confer shuffled the Georgia lineup late in the first, sending All-SEC defender Eddy up to the front while moving Mariah Krase to the midfield and Rebekah Perry to the back line. Georgia was able to control possession with the new look and continued the shift into the second frame.
Five minutes into the second, Krase and Marah Falle used a combination to play Eddy in, and the rising sophomore beat two defenders to free herself up. Eddy went one-on-one with the keeper and slotted it in to cut the lead in half at 2-1.
The equalizer came 10 minutes later when Eddy pulled free on the left end line and beat one player, serving the ball across with her left where Falle executed a near-post run. She got in front the defense and redirected the cross with a header past the keeper to knot it at 2-2.
Both teams had chances to take the lead late but couldn’t find the back of the net a third time. In goal for Georgia, Baker came up with a big point-blank save off a Mexico set piece late to keep the score where it was.
Traci Dreesen played all 90 minutes for Georgia in the midfield after having battled injuries for much of her career.
“I’m really proud of our girls for going down in the first half and not playing particularly well, and then regrouping and making changes,” said Confer. “We saw a great response from them and I thought it was great to get those two goals in the second half. You could see the momentum shift and we carried that through the end of the game. Obviously we would’ve liked to get another goal for the win, but we’re definitely proud of the way we fought back and how hard we played.”
The Bulldogs – who are now 2-2-2 on the spring season – will close out the off-season schedule as they host in-state rival Georgia State next Fri., April 16 at 7 p.m. at the UGA Soccer Complex.
