VALDOSTA, Ga. – A penalty kick goal in the 106^th minute spoiled an outstanding defensive performance by Valdosta State as No. 6 Mississippi College escaped with a 1-0 victory Friday evening.  VSU fell to 5-5 on the year and 3-3 in Gulf South Conference play, while Mississippi College improved to 9-1 and 7-0 in league play.
 
The Blazers went toe-to-toe with the sixth-ranked team in the country the entire evening and had chances to win the game in the second half and in overtime.  VSU junior goalkeeper Caroline Embler tallied 12 saves in the match as the team had nine shots with three on frame for the game.  It marked the first overtime game of the season for the Blazers. 
 
Seniors Riley Tennant and Ashley Lewis each had two shots with one on frame for the match, while MC fired 20 shots with 13 on goal.  Davenport had five shots with four on frame and the penalty kick.  Emma Claire Furman also had five shots and four on frame.
 
The Blazers had a good run with senior Riley Tennant in the ninth minute, but MC was unable to recover and prevent the shot attempt.   MC had two early free kicks at the top of the box, but one was blocked and Embler had the save for the other. 
 
MC's Erin Hederman had a good look as she split the defense, but Embler came up with the diving save in the 15th minute.  Both teams had a couple of chances in the first half, but were unable to score with a 0-0 match at intermission.  Embler had six saves for the period and MC goalkeeper Gabby Kayser had one save.  The Choctaws held a 10-2 lead in shots and 6-1 in shots on goal for the period. 
 
The Choctaws had two early corner kicks in the second half, but VSU countered with a run and shot from Tennant as Kayser came up with the diving save. 
 
VSU tallied three shots and took two corner kicks in a barrage of offense in the 63^rd minute, but was unable to convert with its best offensive series of the match to that point as the Blazers began dominating more of the possession than in the first half. 
 
"I thought we played very well as we had some chances in the second half," Valdosta State head coach Stephen Andrew said.  
 
Neither team was able to get a score in the second half as the match went to overtime.  Tennant had another good run in overtime for the Blazers and Mississippi College had a run with a in front of the net, but went wide late in the first overtime.  In the final minute of the first overtime, Hederman had a great look for a winner as Embler came out to challenge getting the save to preserve the scoreless tie, sending the game into the second overtime.  
 
MC's Katie Taylor had a great look on a header two minutes into the second overtime, but the ball sailed just wide.  With 4:22 left in the second overtime, Mississippi College was awarded a penalty kick and Davenport converted for the 1-0 victory.
 
VSU continues at home on Sunday at 1 p.m. versus Delta State to close out the three-match home stand.