VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team played its first countable game in 463 days Wednesday evening against Flagler College in the 2021 spring season-opener.  Flagler scored a goal just 21 seconds into the contest, but the Blazers fought hard and pulled within 2-1 midway through the second half for the final margin.
 
Flagler's (1-0) Sara Sandberg took a pass from Brin Wexler 21 seconds into the match and fired a shot past VSU junior goalkeeper Samantha Blanford for the early 1-0 lead.  It was the fastest goal scored by an opponent in VSU history with the previous mark of 26 seconds from Bailey Tadlock of Christian Brothers on Nov. 1, 2019, also in Valdosta.  Wexler intercepted a pass just inside VSU's attacking half and passed to Sandberg who streaked down the nearside for the shot and score.
 
In the 22^nd minute, Flagler was awarded a penalty kick and Sandberg sailed the PK wide of the net.  The Saints continued with the momentum much of the first half as they held an 8-2 lead in shots in the first half.  Blanford had four saves in the opening half, while VSU held a 2-1 lead in corner kicks. 
 
Early in the second half the momentum continued with the visitors as they had four shots within the first 20 minutes.  Flagler's Josefine Nilsen hit the post with a shot at the 63:52 mark and Sandberg was there to clean it up for her second goal of the game off the rebound. 
 
From there, the momentum began to swing towards VSU as junior Kyleigh Reedy found paydirt with a score on a long run down the far side with an assist from VSU sophomore newcomer Rachel Howard for a 2-1 deficit at 67:07 into the match.  Senior Paige Taylor had a good look moments later for the equalizer, but Flagler goalkeeper Sarah-Lisa Dubel was up to the task.
 
VSU had three more shots and one corner kick down the stretch, but was unable to find the equalizing goal. 
 
For the match, Blanford had a career-high 12 saves in the match with four in the first half and eight second half saves.  She was named the Guardian Bank Blazer Player of the Game.  Reedy converted on her one shot for the only goal.  It was her third goal of her career, while Howard had one shot on frame and the assist.  VSU had ten shots and five on frame for the match.
 
Flagler tallied 23 shots with 14 on target as Dubel had four saves in goal.  Sandberg scored two goals and missed a hat trick with the errant PK.  She had a team-high five shots with four on target.
 
The Blazers head on the road for the first Gulf South Conference match on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at rival West Georgia.  VSU then returns home to host Lee on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. in a makeup game from Feb. 13.