VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team couldn't quite put away Gulf South Conference Group B favorite Lee Thursday afternoon at the VSU Soccer Complex.  VSU held the lead twice in the contest as Lee battled back for the 2-2 tie. 
 
The Blazers (1-1-1, 1-0-1 GSC) had scores from seniors Paige Taylor and Kira Malpica as Taylor tallied her second-straight game with a penalty kick goal and set the school-record for both career PK's made (3) and PK's attempted (4).  United Soccer Coaches Division II Women's Player of the Week, sophomore Rachael Howard, tallied an assist off Malpica's score giving her a team-high two assists on the year. 
 
VSU tallied ten shots in the match Thursday with seven on goal as Howard and sophomore Bailey Hearn each had two shots to lead the team.  Freshman goalkeeper Landon Carter started and played in her first collegiate match going all 110 minutes between the pipes and came up with 14 saves on 23 shots by the Lady Flames and 18 on frame. 
 
Lee (4-0-1, 1-0-1 GSC) was led by four shots and three on target from Kate Dirske as she had one of the two scores for the Lady Flames.  Tatum Miler had three shots on goal and one score, while Mallory Haden had the assist for Lee.
 
The match was the first tie in the series with Lee and marked back-to-back overtime matches.  Lee won the previous match on Nov. 12, 2019, in the first round of the GSC Championship with a heartbreaking 1-0 victory in Cleveland, Tenn.  VSU now stands at 9-10-21 all-time in overtime in program history.
 
In the sixth minute, VSU drew a foul in the box and Taylor converted for her second goal of the season via PK and a 1-0 Lady Blazer lead at the 5:37 mark.  The Lady Flames had five corner kicks in the first half alone and 12 for the match as they converted on a set piece at the 14:02 mark as Kate Dirkse scored off the corner kick from Hayden for a 1-1 score. 
 
Just 1:13 later, Malpica scored from inside the six-yard box with a nice assist from Howard for a 2-1 score.  The game remained 2-1 at halftime as Lee had much of the offensive momentum in the first half, outshooting VSU 10-3.  Carter had eight saves in the opening half.
 
Lee continued the momentum through the early stages of the second half, but Carter and the Lady Blazers were up to the task.  The Lady Flames had a number of shots hit off the bar in the half.  At the 77:49 mark, Lee continued to force the issue and Riley Henry fired a shot as it deflected off Carter for a save and Miller was there for the put back and a 2-2 score.
 
Hern had a great look on from deep as the ball sailed just high at the 82:49 mark.  Lee had three corner kicks and one shot from Hayden for a save from Carter in the final ten minutes of regulation.
 
In the first overtime period, Lee's momentum continued on the attacking half of the field.  Both teams had two shots and Hayden hit the bar for the Lady Flames.  In the second overtime, Howard had a good look, but Lee goalkeeper Haleigh Holland came up with the save at the 104:08 mark, while Carter tallied her 14^th save of the game preserving the tie with at the 107:19 mark.
 
The match marked the first tie for the Blazers since a 3-3 score on Oct. 31, 2017, as VSU won on PK's in the GSC Tournament against North Alabama.  VSU is 83-65-21 all-time since the program's inception in 2011.
 
VSU continues at home this weekend with a Gulf South Conference match versus Montevallo on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the VSU Soccer Complex.