VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team opens the 2018 Gulf South Conference slate Friday at Auburn University at Montgomery at 8 p.m. ET.  VSU then travels to Montevallo for a Sunday match beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
 
Links to live stats, audio/video streaming and ticket information can be found at www.vstateblazers.comon the women's soccer schedule page. Check back with the site for complete recaps and stats of each match. 
 
VSU enters league play at 2-2 on the season after a 3-1 loss on Sunday at Florida Tech.  The Blazers downed Florida Southern a week ago Friday in a 2-0 win as both goals came within the final three minutes of the contest. Against FSU, the Blazers scored the first goal on an own goal and the insurance score came from senior Suvi Savolainen in the 90^thminute of play.
 
Against Florida Tech, VSU surrendered a late goal in the first half, but scored just 54 seconds into the second half to level the match on the first goal of the season for senior Mallory McDaniel and the second of her career.  The Panthers added a pair of goals just under 20 minutes apart for the final 3-1 margin.
 
The Blazers have scored eight goals this season and allowed four, while shooting .145 on the ear on 8 of 55.  VSU is 33 of 55 in shots on goal (.600) and is averaging 13.8 shots per game.  The Blazers have six assists on the year, while taking 25 corner kicks.  
 
Individually, junior Ashley Lewis leads the team with three goals and six points on 18 shots and nine on frame.  Freshman Lauren Hicks has two goals on six shots, while sophomore Lexie Hall leads the team with two assists.  
 
Between the posts, the Blazers have a 1.00 goals against average as sophomore Caroline Embler has started all four matches, logging 318:23 minutes, while allowing three goals (0.85 GAA), with 15 saves, one shutout and is 2-2 on the year.  Freshman Samantha Blanford has played in two games, logging 41:37 minutes, allowing one goal and faced one shot, while combining on a shutout.  
 
Nationally speaking, the Blazers are third in the GSC in assists per game at 1.5, while ranking second in the league in assists with six for 62^ndnationally.  The eight goals ranks fourth in the league, while the 22 points also is good for fourth in the conference.  Individually, Lewis is second in the league in game winners with one, while her three goals ranks fourth in the league.  Embler's 0.85 GAA ranks third in the league.
 
Auburn Montgomery is 0-2 on the year after losses to Clayton State (5-3) and Wingate (4-3) the first weekend of the season.  AUM hasn't played since Sept. 3.  The Warhawks are led by Ruby Mendez who has three goals and two assists to lead the team. She has 16 shots and nine on goal. Melissa Fernandez leads the team with three assists on the year, ranking tied for first in the league.  In goal, both Felicia Wester and Dejon Fletcher have split duties.  Fletcher has eight saves on the year to lead the team.
 
VSU downed AUM 6-0 in Valdosta last season as Savolainen recorded a hat trick in the match.  The all-time series is tied 1-1 as AUM won in Valdosta 1-0 in the 2016 season-opener as Mendez scored 17:14 into the match.
 
Montevallo is 1-1-2 on the year after tying Clayton State and losing 1-0 to nationally ranked Georgia College last weekend.  UM also tied Florida Tech, 2-2 to open the season as the Falcons are 0-0-2 against teams VSU has played this season.   UM will host West Georgia before welcoming the Blazers on Sunday.
 
The Falcons are currently eighth in the United Soccer Coaches Association Division II South Region rankings published Sept. 11.  UM is one of four GSC teams ranked in the region poll as West Florida leads the rankings, followed by Lee University at No. 3 and Mississippi College is ranked seventh.  
 
Montevallo has scored four goals this season, while allowing four goals.  UM has 55 shots with 21 on goal and recorded four assists.  Montevallo has taken31 corner kicks and defended 15 set pieces. In goal, the Falcons have 19 saves.  Melanie Stevens leads the team with three points on one goal and one assist as does Medhali Hernandez.  Hernandez has the one game winner for the Falcons and leads the team with 10 shots. In goal, both Annie Mason and Judith Perez-Bayon have seen time.  Mason has logged a team-high 245 minutes, allowing three goals, with 10 saves and is 1-0-1 on the year.  
 
VSU leads the all-time series with Montevallo, 3-0.  Last season, VSU won 3-1 in Valdosta as the Falcons had a player sent off at the 76:05 mark.  The Blazers won in 2012 in Montevallo 3-1 and won in the inaugural season of women's soccer at VSU in Valdosta, 1-0.  
 
Following the games this weekend, VSU returns home for a four-game home stand beginning Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. against Spring Hill at the Soccer Complex.