ROME, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team picked up its first Gulf South Conference road win of the season, 4-2, at Shorter University Friday night. The match marks the Blazers' fifth win this season and improves to 5-1-1 on the season, 2-0-1 in GSC play, while the Hawks fall to 1-7 overall and 0-5 in league play.
 
The Hawks came out firing, picking up an early goal in the second minute by Shorter's Juliana Torres to put the Blazers down early in the first few minutes. 
 
VSU had the potential equalizer called back in the ninth minute on an offside call.  Blazer freshman Molly Wooldridge had the first real chance with a shot just over the net in the 21st minute but the Blazers found the back of the net in the 37th minute from sophomore defender Taylor Morris, who recorded her first goal of the season and her first ever collegiate goal.
 
The match remained tied, 1-1, at halftime. The Blazers outshot the Hawks 9-2 in the first half with four on frame. Shorter finished the first 45 with two shots, both on target.
 
VSU found its footing in the second half. Freshman forward Molly Wooldridge gave the Blazers the lead in the 52nd minute from a key pass from Bailey Hern. Wooldridge recorded her fifth goal of the season and finished tonight's game with one goal and two shots on goal. Hern finished the match with two shots and one assist.
 
The Blazers continued their dominant second half with another goal on the scoresheet, as sophomore Mallory Johnson capitalized off a solo effort in the 55th minute to bring the score to 3-1. Johnson recorded her first goal of the 2021 season and her third goal in the red and black.
 
In the 59th minute, sophomore Samantha Worley recorded her second goal of the season with a point-blank chance to give the Blazers a comfortable lead, 4-1.  Junior Kyleigh Reedy collected the assist on the goal and finished the game with one shot and one assist, while Worley finished the game with two shots and one goal.
 
To round out the match, Shorter scored the final goal for a 4-2 score as SU's leading scorer, Danielle Forsythe, found the back of the net in the 72nd minute.
 
The Blazers finished the game with 16 shots with nine on frame and nine corner kicks, while the Hawks ended the match with six shots with five on frame and two corner kicks.
 
Blazer senior goalkeeper and reining GSC Defender of the Week, Samantha Blanford, along with freshman keeper Landon Carter combined minutes to pick up three saves in six shots faced and two goals allowed.
 
 
VSU has a quick turnaround, with its next match scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. at No. 9 Lee in Cleveland, Tenn. To stay up to date on all things Blazer soccer, visit vstateblazers.com or follow Blazer Athletics on social media.