DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Trailing 2-0 in the second half in the first round of the 2021 NCAA South Region Soccer Championship, the Valdosta State women's soccer team scored off a corner kick to pull within 2-1, but was unable to get any closer, falling 2-1.  Blazer sophomore Bailey Hern had the lone goal for the team off an assist from junior Kyleigh Reedy.
 
VSU ends its season at 11-7-1, as0 Reedy sent a great ball Hern, who headed it in for her seventh goal of the season in the 58^th minute.  It was Reedy's team-leading sixth assist of the season.  Hern had the goal on her one shot for the match, while VSU had three shots and two on target for the game. 
 
The Argos (13-3-2) will face No. 2-seed Embry-Riddle in the second round on Sunday.  UWF finished with 11 shots and nine on target with scores from Destiny Hammar and Peyton Peffers.  VSU freshman goalkeeper Emma Pruett had seven saves in the match.
 
The Blazers, who were making their fourth trip to the NCAA postseason in program history and first since 2014, have played all one goal matches in the NCAA Tournament and recorded their lone victory in 2014 with a 1-0 win over Christian Brothers.  VSU is 1-4 now all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
 
On a very windy day on Friday, the Blazers had the wind in their face for the first half and the Argos took advantage with much of the pressure.  In the ninth minute, a transition and quick throw in by the Argos led to the first score as Peffers put a shot past Pruett at the 8:50 mark for the 1-0 lead off an assist from Hammar. 
 
The score remained 1-0 at halftime as VSU took the wind in the second half.  In the 51^st minute, following an Argo corner kick, Hammar scored for a 2-0 lead.
 
From there, VSU started to pressure more and upped the tempo, trailing 2-0.  Hern scored on the corner kick and then the Blazers began dominating more of the attack through the latter stages of the game. Despite not being able to come up with the equalizer, the Blazers fought hard to the end.
 
Since head coach Stephen Andrew took over in 2017, the Blazers have qualified for the Gulf South Conference postseason tournament each of his five seasons and he is 46-29-6, while going 34-16-3 in GSC play.
 
With a strong nucleus returning for 2022, the Blazers are poised for another strong season next Fall.