STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern struck early with two goals in the first 10 minutes of Sunday's match with Jacksonville State to down the Gamecocks, 2-0, at Bo Pitts Field on the GSU campus.

The Gamecocks dropped to 3-4 on the season after posting a split of the weekend. Jax State looked to carry momentum of a 7-1 thumping of Alabama State into the match with the Eagles, but found itself in a hole early in the contest.

The Eagles picked up their third win of the season and striking within the first two minutes of the action off of a corner kick and adding a second goal in the eighth minute of the match. GSU's Claire Casey registered the goal off the corner set piece from Erin Wilkins. Bri Conley added the Eagles' second goal six minutes later after Kyleigh Knight and Kendall Wilson set her up got the goal.

"We didn't start the match in the manner we prepared for and it left us in a hole that we couldn't get out of," said head coach Sean Fraser. "Whenever we got 'in system' we looked quite good but ultimately if you give freebies away, its going to be really difficult to get a result."

GSU would make those two goals stand up for the win after the Gamecocks had four of the seven shots in the final 45 minutes. Sophomore Alexia Des Croisselles recorded three shots on the afternoon. Junior Ana Alvarez Garcia added two more looks at the goal. The Eagles finished with 13 total shots. Junior Poppy Bastock was active between the pipes with six saves in the setback.

The Gamecocks return to action on Thursday in their final tune up before Conference USA action starts on September 22 against CUSA frontrunner Liberty. Jax State travels to Mississippi Valley State for a 5 p.m. start time in Itta Bena, Miss.