THE BASICS:
Score: Valdosta State 6, Auburn Montgomery 3
Records: Valdosta State 3-2 (1-0 GSC), Auburn Montgomery 0-3 (0-1 GSC)
THE LEAD: Trailing by two goals within the first 17 minutes, the Valdosta State women's soccer team roared back for a 6-3 win at Auburn Montgomery Friday evening in the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams. VSU scored four goals in the second half and senior
Suvi Savolainen paced the team with two goals, while junior
Riley Tennant added one goal and two assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Just 6:28 into the match, AUM's Julia Simoes scored off an assist from Allison Singleterry for a 1-0 lead as VSU freshman Samantha Blanford made her first career start between the pipes.
- VSU got good looks early, but was unable to connect as AUM went up 2-0 on a goal from Ruby Mendez for her fourth score of the season at the 17:13 mark.
- The Blazers got on the board as senior Carley Montgomery scored at the 25:17 mark on an assist from junior Ashley Lewis.
- Savolainen scored her first goal of the season at the 30 minute mark to tie the match on an assist from Tennant, but Mendez scored her second goal of the half at the 41:45 mark for a 3-2 AUM lead at halftime.
- The second half saw the Blazers come out firing on all cylinders as senior Mallory McDaniel scored a goal at the 63:32 mark to even the proceedings on a Tennant assist and, not more than two minutes later, Tennant put the Blazers in front for good with a score at the 65:16 mark off an assist from freshman Lauren Hicks.
- Savolainen scored her second goal of the game at the 76:02 mark on assist from McDaniel, while freshman Ireland Jarvis scored off an assist from junior Haleigh Carr for the sixth and final goal in the 82nd minute.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- The six goals matched the most by the Blazers since VSU won 6-0 against AUM last season.
- VSU had 22 shots in the game with 16 on frame, while AUM had 12 shots and six on target.
- The Blazers held a 5-1 lead in corner kicks, while Blanford made three saves – all in the first half.
- Savolainen scored two goals in the match as she had four shots with three on frame off the bench for the Blazers.
- Tennant scored one goal and notched two assists in the game, while recording five shots and two on frame.
- Blanford (1-0) earned her first collegiate victory going all 90 minutes.
- Mendez paced the Warhawks with five shots and three on frame and two scores.
UP NEXT:
- VSU continues on the road at Montevallo on Sunday, before returning home for a pair of matches next week against Spring Hill College on Friday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. versus West Florida.
- Both games will be played at the VSU Soccer Complex.
