JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State soccer team rallied late in the contest before dropping its ASUN Conference home opener against Florida Gulf Coast, 2-1, on Thursday night at the JSU Soccer Field.

The Gamecocks, playing in their first ASUN home match since 2002, dropped to 5-6-1 overall and 1-2 in the league, while the Eagles improved to 6-5-0 and collected a third consecutive ASUN result. Jax State will regroup for a Sunday afternoon contest with the Hatters of Stetson. Match time is set for 1 p.m. It is Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Day with JSU soccer as all the JPARD participants are encouraged to join the Gamecocks on Sunday. Cocky's Cones will be on hand serving free snow cones at facility. Admission is free to all JSU soccer matches.

JSU could not withstand the FGCU start to the contest as it tallied two goals in the first 13 minutes of the contest. The Eagles jumped on the scoreboard in the fourth minute with Alyssa Abbondandolo drilled the first of two goals in the win from just on top of the box. She would connect on FGCU's penalty kick nine minutes later in the 13th minute. FGCU pushed the ball forward offensively with 26 total shots in the contest with 10 looks at goal. The Eagles controlled the possession for nearly 70 percent of the time and limited JSU to four shots on the night.

"Obviously it was a poor start and they (Florida Gulf Coast) was on the right foot very early and was able to get the first goal," said head coach Neil Macdonald. "We improved as the game went on and I think we put in a really good second half, once we solved some of the issues that they were causing us to have. I think Florida Gulf Coast is absolute quality and that is as good of a team that I have seen in the last 10 years, particularly when it comes to attacking. I thought we battled with them our girls can hold their heads up high because they stayed in the game."

The Jax State rally began late in the contest that was ignited by the play of freshman Nyeemah Prescod-Beckles and junior Cephana Deane. The duo was able to put together Jax State's scoring play. Deane delivered her third goal of the season in the 84th minute after a feed from Prescod-Beckles. It was her first assist of the season to give her seven points on the season, including her three goals.

In the final minute of the match, the Gamecocks had a corner kick situation, but the Eagles maintained the lead.

The Gamecocks will look to carry the solid second half performance into Sunday's outing with Stetson. The Hatter fell to North Alabama on Thursday, 2-1, in Florence, Ala.
 
"Can we start better and open the game stronger is what we can take from this match and then build on the things we did today by defending and if we can counter," added Macdonald.

Sunday's ASUN action will be streamed on ESPN+.