VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team, fresh off a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory at West Georgia on Sunday, returns home to host Lee University Thursday at 2 p.m. and Montevallo Sunday at 3 p.m. at the VSU Soccer Complex.
 
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, there will be limited capacity at the VSU Soccer Complex this spring season.  A hard capacity of 130 (one hundred thirty) fans will be admitted to each home game.  Seating includes 52 seats in the grandstands and 78 available spots in marked off areas of the grass around the field.  Fans are encouraged to come to the VSU Soccer Complex early to ensure admittance.  Doors will open one (1) hour before each match and, for this spring only, there is no charge for admittance.  Fans interested in sitting in the 78 available spots in the marked off areas of the grass around the field, it is encouraged to bring lawn chairs/blankets.
 
The Blazers (1-1, 1-0 Gulf South Conference) jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two late, first half goals on Sunday at UWG.  Sophomore Rachael Howard scored her first goal in a Blazer uniform for the first score at the 39:56 mark and senior Lyana Steele scored her first career goal just over five minutes later with an assist from sophomore Amber Saunders for a 2-0 lead. 
 
Just 2:01 into the second half, UWG got on the board with a score, but 11 minutes later Howard tallied her second goal of the game for a 3-1 lead. UWG pulled within 3-2 in the 66^th minute and scored the equalizer in the 86^th minute forcing overtime.  In the overtime period, VSU senior Paige Taylor scored on a penalty kick at the 93:59 mark for the game winner.  It was Taylor's second converted penalty kick in her career as she now is 2 for 3 in PK's and is tied for first in both PK's made and attempted in a career in program history.
 
Howard was named United Soccer Coaches Women's Division II Player of the Week for her efforts as she also had an assist in the opener last Wednesday against Flagler.  She finished her first two games at VSU with two goals scored, one assist, five shots and four on frame. 
 
Along with Howard, Taylor and VSU freshman Taylor Morris were named to the GSC Top Performers of the Week list.  Heading into the games this week, Lee's Sage Sammeli and Haleigh Holland, along with Montevallo's Kira Bochard, Melanie Stevens and Avery Campbell also were named to the GSC Top Performers List.
 
Fans can access links to live stats and streaming of the matches this week at vstateblazers.com on the women's soccer schedule page. 
 
Lee enters the week with a 4-0 record overall and a 1-0 mark in the GSC.  The Flames are coming off a 3-1 victory on Sunday over Auburn Montgomery.  Sammeli had two goals in the match, while Holland made two saves.  The Lady Flames also have a 2-1 victory over Division I Lipscomb this season and a 2-0 victory over Lincoln Memorial and 3-0 decision against Carson-Newman.  Lipscomb was tabbed the Atlantic Sun Conference favorite. 
 
The Lady Flames lead the all-time series with VSU 7-2, but the Lady Blazers and Lady Flames split two meetings in 2019.  VSU won 2-0 in Valdosta, while Kelsey Yoder scored in the 109^th minute of double overtime in the first round of the conference tournament in Cleveland, Tenn., for a 1-0 victory. 
 
Thursday will be just the fourth time Lee has visited VSU as the Lady Flames lead in Valdosta, 2-1.  In the 2019 regular season meeting, Lee entered No. 17 nationally and VSU posted two goals from Lauren Hicks in the second half for the shutout.  Lee has won three of the last five in the series dating back to 2017. 
 
Lee has scored ten goals in four matches this season and allowed just two, while recording 46 shots and allowed 40.  The Lady Flames are 27 of 46 in shots on target (.587), while the opposition is 19 of 40 (.475).  Lee is 2 for 4 in PK's this season. 
 
Yoder leads the team with four goals this season and two game winners.  She has fired ten shots with eight on frame.  Yoder is 2 for 4 in PK's this season.  Sammeli is second in scoring with two goals, while firing five shots and three on frame.  In goal, Jackie Burns and Holland each have split time as both are 2-0 and each boast a 0.50 goals against average.  Burns leads the team with 12 saves and both have one shutout this season.
 
VSU head coach Stephen Andrew is in his fourth season at the helm of the Blazers.  He is 33-21-3 overall and 27-12-2 in Gulf South Conference play.  He guided VSU to three-straight conference tournament appearances from 2017-2019, before the COVID-19 Pandemic cancelled the 2020 fall season.  Overall Andrew is in his 14^th season of coaching at he is 173-76-12 all-time, coaching at Piedmont for nine seasons and Huntingdon College for one.
 
The Blazers were picked third in the GSC East Division Preseason Poll, announced Thursday by the league office.  VSU garnered 16 points in the poll as it was voted on by the head coaches in the league.  Teams received five points for a first-place vote, four points for a second-place vote, etc.  Head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
 
Lee was tabbed the East Division favorite with 24 points and received four of the six first-place nods, while Montevallo was second with 22 points and the remaining two first-place votes.  West Georgia was fourth with 14 points, followed by Auburn Montgomery (8) and Shorter was sixth with six points.
 
In the West Division, Mississippi College was named the favorite with 24 points and two first-place votes, followed by West Alabama (22 points / 2 first-place) and Christian Brothers was third with 16 points.  Delta State was selected fourth (12 points), followed by Alabama Huntsville (11 points) and Union was sixth with five points.
 
Howard leads the Blazers with two goals and one assist for five points.  She has five shots and four on frame, while junior Kyleigh Reedy has one goal on two shots with one on target.  Steele has one goal and Taylor has the one game winner with the PK last Sunday.  Hicks and Saunders each have assists on the year.  Junior Samantha Blanford is 1-1 in two starts with a 2.45 GAA.  She has 16 saves, including a career-high 12 stops in the opener against Flagler last Wednesday. 
 
Montevallo enters the week with a 3-0 record and a 2-0 mark in the GSC after victories over Auburn Montgomery (4-0) and Shorter (10-0) each of the last two Sundays.  The Falcons also have a non-conference victory over Trevecca Nazarene (3-0) as UM has not conceded a goal this season (17-0). 
 
Bochard tallied a hat trick in the 10-0 victory over Shorter as she leads the team with six goals and one assist for the season.  Bochard has seven shots with six on target and three game winners.  Abbie Vingers is second in scoring with three goals on seven shots and four on frame.  The Falcons have scored the 17 goals on 14 assists, while recording 72 shots with 35 on frame.  UM has allowed just nine shots with four on goal thus far.  In goal Annie Mason is 3-0 with four saves on six shots faced with three shutouts.
 
VSU leads the all-time series with Montevallo 4-1, but had the winning streak halted in a 2-1 loss on Sept. 27, 2019, in Valdosta.  In the match, UM jumped out to a 2-0 lead at halftime and Hicks scored the lone goal for VSU in the 79^th minute as the Falcons outshot VSU 17-9 and 8-3 in shots on goal.  VSU has outscored UM 10-5 in the series with one shutout in the first meeting on Sept. 11, 2011, in Valdosta.  Sunday will be the fourth time the teams have played in Titletown with VSU leading 2-1.