CARROLLTON, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team made a valiant second half comeback, but came up short in a 3-2 loss to West Alabama in the second round of the Gulf South Conference Spring Championship Series Sunday afternoon.  The match was played at the University of West Georgia.    
 
The Blazers held a 12-8 lead in shots and an 8-4 lead in shots on goal, but the Tigers capitalized on their attempts with three goals in their first six shots of the match to pull out the victory.  VSU had goals from sophomore Rachael Howard and junior Kyleigh Reedy had a goal and an assist.  Junior Hannah Swenson and senior Kira Malpica each had three shots and one on target to lead the team.  Freshman goalkeeper Landon Carter finished with one save for the match. 
 
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, VSU (3-2-2) was finally rewarded for its offense in the second half as Reedy scored after UWA goalkeeper Tabitha Weldon was issued a yellow card at the 57:02 mark for a 1-1 score.  Less than five minutes later, Howard scored for a 2-1 lead off an assist from Reedy at the 62:00 mark as it looked like the momentum was beginning to shift.
 
The Tigers leveled the match just over four minutes later as Anele Komani scored with an assist from Paige Laidler for a 2-2 score at the 66:18 mark.  UWA then took the lead as Komani provided the assist for Megan Ongteco at the 79:15 mark for a 3-2 score.  VSU was unable to get a shot the rest of the match. 
 
For the Tigers (5-2-1), who advance to play Mississippi College next weekend in the semifinal round, Komani had three shots with two on target along with a goal and an assist.  Ongteco had the game winner for her only shot, while Madison Barbara opened the scoring the first half with a goal at the 32:17 mark. 
 
In the first half, VSU was having its way offensively, but Weldon came up with five saves as the Blazers held a 9-2 lead in shots and a 5-1 mark in shots on goal, along with four corner kicks.  Barbara scored her goal off a blocked shot from Komani for the early lead.