KENNESAW, Ga. – Jacksonville State's Cynthia Bagozzi's goal 12 minutes in to Sunday's ASUN Conference battle with Kennesaw State withstood an Owls rally as the Gamecocks picked up a 1-0 win at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

JSU improved to 5-5-1 overall and finishes the first weekend of league play at 1-1. KSU dropped to 4-5 on the season and 1-1 in the ASUN. After the first two conference matches on the road, the Gamecocks will return home on Thursday for the ASUN home opener against Florida Gulf Coast. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the JSU Soccer Field. Admission is free to all home matches. Jax State will welcome Stetson to campus next Sunday to begin the month of October. Both matches will be available on the ESPN+.

Baggozzi drilled her third goal of the season after a feed from Cephana Deane after the Gamecocks caught the Owls on the attack and were able to create a scoring opportunity early in the contest.
"That play is a set that we have been working on and it worked out today," said head coach Neil Macdonald. "It was great work by both of them to get the goal."

The Owls finished with 20 total shots in the setback, but they were limited to five looks at goal in the final 45 minutes. Jax State tallied 11 shots on the day, including seven in the second half.

Freshman Kylie Wells registered three shots, including one that nailed the crossbar late in the contest. Junior Reilly Kucko and Nyeemah Prescod-Beckles joined Baggozi with two shots each.

JSU's backline thwarted many KSU runs throughout the contest, including two Owl looks at goal in the final five minutes. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Morgan Lerch collected six saves en route to her fifth win of the season.

"Our back three were really solid today and they did not let anything past them," added Macdonald. "It was just a great team effort today to get the win."

KSU's Kendall Higgs turned in a match-high four shots on the day.