Box Score VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 24 ranked Valdosta State Blazer soccer team dropped a 3-0 loss to No. 19 North Georgia in their season opener on a warm Friday afternoon at the VSU Soccer Complex in Valdosta, Ga.
 
Other than two threatening shots in the contest, one from Kim Caitlin Alderman in the first half and a header off the crossbar in the second period from senior defender Shelby Jennings, the Blazers struggled to organize an attack throughout the contest.
 
Meanwhile, the Nighthawks posted 17 shots over the course of the afternoon, 10 of which were on goal, and three of which found the net.
 
UNG scored their first goal early after Jacy Ramey served up a ball in the middle to Mollie Arrendale, who dribbled momentarily before lifting a soft shot over the head of Blazer keeper McCall Gardner at the 12:20 mark. Gardner racked up seven saves in the contest for Valdosta State, but the Nighthawks took advantage of another opportunity six minutes later when Rachel Vanhorn claimed possession of the ball in VSU territory and snuck a goal into the left side of the net.
 
The Nighthawks third and final goal came in the 47^th minute, when Arrendale struck again from the left side of the penalty box on an open opportunity to seal the match and lift UNG to their first win of the year.
 
Valdosta State returns to their home field for a shot at redemption on Sunday at 3:00 p.m., as the team hosts Saint Leo for a South Regional matchup. Live stats and video coverage will be available at www.vstateblazers.com.