VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team continues its four-match Gulf South Conference road swing this weekend, facing off against Mississippi College at 2 p.m. EST on Oct. 8, and at Delta State at 2 p.m. EST on Oct. 10.
Coming off a 3-0 loss to No. 5 Lee, the Blazers enter the weekend with a 5-2-1 record, 2-1-1 in GSC play, while Mississippi College enters Friday's match with a 6-3-0 record and 4-2-0 in the GSC. Delta State enters the weekend with a 5-5 record, 5-1 in the GSC.
The Blazers are 0-5-1 against the Choctaws, with the most recent meeting in the fall 2019 season where the Choctaws came out on top 1-0 in double overtime. VSU is 0-3 on the road in Clinton, Miss., and have dropped the past five matches with the Choctaws. The Blazers recorded a draw with the Choctaws on October 5, 2014, in Valdosta, 1-1.
The Blazers are 8-0-1 against Delta State, with their most recent meeting ending in a 1-0 score line in favor of the Blazers on October 20, 2019, at home. VSU holds a 4-0-1 away record over Delta State, with the Blazers having a six-game win streak going into the match.
Gameday Storylines
Inside the Box Score
This season, the Blazers are led by sophomore Bailey Hern and freshman Molly Woolridge. Hern has three goals on the season with four assists, while Wooldridge has recorded four goals on the season and three assists as both lead the team with seven points each. Hern leads the team with 18 shots and ten on target, along with one game-winner, while Woolridge has 11 shots and five on frame.
Junior Lauren Hicks has four points on the year with two goals, while freshman Jocelyn Oballe is quickly finding her footing on the team, recording two goals and both were game-winning goals.
As a team, the Blazers have scored 24 goals with 17 assists for 65 points. The team has 111 shots with 63 on frame and five game-winners. VSU also has an own goal to its credit this season.
Nationally, the Blazers sit fourth in the GSC for shots with 111 and 63 shots on goal. The Blazers lead the GSC in goals, recording 24 in eight matches, and sit in third in the GSC in points with 67.
Individually, freshman Jocelyn Oballe currently is second in the GSC in game-winners with two. Hern comes in at sixth in shots on goal with 10, 12th in the league in shots with 18, third in assists with four, and seventh in points with 10. Wooldridge comes in right behind Hern in eighth with five points on the season.
In goal, senior Samantha Blanford has played in seven matches with five starts, logging 455:16 minutes. She has a 0.99 goals against average with 19 saves for a .792 save percentage. Blanford is 3-1-1 on the year with one shutout and combined on two other shutouts. Freshman Landon Carter has played in five matches with three starts. She has a 2.09 GAA with nine saves and a 2-1 record, while combining in one shutout in 258:15 minutes. Freshman Emma Pruett has played in two matches for 38:49 minutes and combined on two shutouts.
Looking at Mississippi College
The Choctaws enter Friday's match coming off a 1-0 loss to West Alabama on Oct. 3. Mississippi College was the favorite in the GSC Coaches Preseason Poll, predicted to round out conference play on top. The team averages 2.56 goals per game and averages 20.3 shots per game. The Choctaws have outscored their opponents this season 23-6, and Erin Hederman, Holly Pascoe and Beatrice Currie have four goals.
Looking at Delta State
Voted to come in at fourth in the GSC Coaches Preseason Poll, Delta State comes into the match averaging 10.2 shots a game and 16 goals on the season. DSU is led by Jae'lasha Julien with four goals, Lavinia Horning with three goals, and Mia Ramirez and Mackenzie Thompson, who each have two goals on the season. Goalkeeper Amanda Hillard leads the defense with 22 saves in nine matches, allowing nine shots past her and a 5-4-0 record this year.
Upcoming Matches
Following this weekend's matches, the Blazers return home on Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. to take on the Union Bulldogs at the VSU Soccer Complex and hosts Christian Brothers on Oct. 17 at 1 p.m.
To stay up to date on all things Blazer soccer, follow Blazer Athletics on social media or visit vstateblazers.com.
