JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State erased a deficit in the second half with three goals to register the first victory of the season with a 3-1 win over in-state foe Alabama State in the home opener on Sunday at the JSU Soccer Field.

The Gamecocks finished the opening weekend of competition with a 1-1 mark after dropping the season opener to Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Friday night.  The Hornets of ASU dropped to 0-2 on the season.

ASU took advantage of a slow start by the Gamecocks with a goal two minutes in to the contest.  ASU's Inma Martinez was able to get the ball past the JSU back line to set up Ariela Lewis for the goal.  That shot would be just one of two in the opening half for ASU and the visitors from Montgomery finished with just five total attempts.

The Gamecocks controlled the tempo for the rest of the 85 minutes of the contest, registering 14 of their 22 total shots in the opening half.  Jax State posted eight shots in the second half, connecting on three of those.

"After the first opening minutes we were excellent, we kept or pace and shape.  We kept telling them that if we kept moving the ball that the gaps would start to open up," said head coach Neil Macdonald.  "I was proud that we were able to stay patient and believe in the system.  We did not panic and got the break through."

JSU equalized in the 59^th minute as sophomore Cheyenne Carden delivered a goal off of a cross from senior Kayla Thompson.  Thompson dribbled past ASU from the left side to find Carden, who put it in the far right corner of the net.

With momentum from equalizing the contest, Jax State tallied the game-winning goal and an insurance goal within two minutes of each other.  JSU was awarded a penalty kick after an ASU foul on a JSU scoring run.  Junior Claire Petersen took the penalty shot, which was blocked by ASU's Gianna Guyot, but the deflection went right back to Petersen for the goal in the 78^th minute.  She led the Gamecocks with five shot attempts.

Petersen, from Hermon, Maine, found herself involved in the final goal of the day in the 80^th minute.  Petersen was credited with an assist on sophomore Danielle Monroe's scoring kick. 
"I thought Claire was absolutely grit today like she always is and that is just who she is.  She never stops working and never stops believing.  She is such a courageous captain and she was a big reason, along with Kayla Thompson, for us getting the goals in the second half," added Macdonald.

The Gamecocks continue home action next weekend with a pair of matches at the JSU Soccer Field.  JSU will take on Middle Tennessee on Friday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. and then close out the weekend hosting Georgia State on Sunday, Aug. 27.  Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.  Admission is free to all home matches.