VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team closes the 2021 spring season with two home matches this week, beginning Wednesday against Montevallo at 1 p.m., and then on Friday versus Shorter at 3 p.m.  Both matches will be at the VSU Soccer Complex.
 
Fans can access links to live stats and streaming of the matches at vstateblazers.com on the women's soccer schedule page.
 
The Blazers are 2-1-1 overall this spring and 2-0-1 in Gulf South Conference play.  VSU's last three matches have gone into overtime, including a double-overtime thriller last Friday in a 4-3 victory at Auburn Montgomery.  VSU trailed 3-0 in the first half at AUM and sophomore Bailey Hern got the Blazers on the board with a score in the 45^th minute of the first half. 
 
Hern then scored her second goal in the 56^th minute for a 3-2 deficit and sophomore Lauren Hicks leveled the match at three in the 83^rd minute.  Sophomore Rachael Howard scored the winner in double-overtime at the 105:31 mark. 
 
For the match, both teams had 18 shots, while VSU had 13 on target and the Warhawks had six on goal. Hern had a game-high eight shots with six on frame and two scores, while Howard finished with one goal and one assist on two shots with one on frame.  She has tallied at least one point in each of the four matches this season.  Junior Kyleigh Reedy finished the match with two assists.  Freshman goalkeeper Landon Carter made her second career start, going all 105:31 minutes, allowing three goals and recording three assists.
 
Montevallo won 2-1 in overtime at West Georgia on Sunday as the Falcons improved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in GSC play.  In the match at UWG, Montevallo's Kira Bochard scored her seventh goal of the season in the 64^th minute as the match was knotted at zero through the first half.  UWG's Jazmine Santiago evened the match at 1-1 in the 73^rd minute, but Romee Contreras for the Falcons scored the winner at the 93:57 mark in the first overtime.  The Falcons held a blistering 29-6 lead in shots and 10-3 in shots on goal.  UM goalkeeper Angel Hailey allowed one goal and had one save.
 
The Falcons, who dropped a 1-0 exhibition match at Alabama last week, are led this season by Bochard who leads the team with seven goals and one assist for 15 points.  She has nine shots and seven on frame and has record three of UM's four game winners.  Contreras is second in scoring with eight points on two goals and a team-high four assists.  She has a team-best 18 shots with seven on target and one game winner.  Abbie Vingers is second on the team in goals scored with three. 
 
In goal, Hailey is 1-1 with an 0.84 goals against average in 213:42 minutes and four saves, while combining for one shutout.  Annie Mason is 3-0 with a 0.00 GAA in 240:15 minutes with two shutouts and one combined shutout and three saves.
 
VSU leads the all-time series with Montevallo, 4-1.  UM won the last meeting between the two teams Sept. 27, 2019, in Valdosta.  VSU has outscored the Falcons 10-5 in the previous five meetings.
 
Shorter enters with an 0-5 record overall and 0-5 in GSC play.  The Hawks dropped a 5-0 decision versus Lee on Sunday.  The Hawks were outshot 29-4 overall and 20-1 in shots on goal.  Four different Lady Flames players scored goals with three in the first half and two in the second.  SU goalkeeper Emily Lopez had 15 saves in the match. 
 
VSU leads the all-time series with Shorter, 7-1-1.  The Blazers have won three-straight in the series and are 3-1-1 in the last five matches.  VSU has not allowed a goal against the Hawks in the past three matches, dating back to a 2-2 tie on Oct. 29, 2016.  SU's lone win came in Valdosta on Oct. 27, 2013, in a 2-0 victory.  VSU has outscored the Hawks 16-3 for the series.
 
For the season, Howard leads the team with three goals, three assists and nine points.  She has nine shots with seven on frame and one game winner.  Hern and senior Paige Taylor each have two goals on the year for four points, while Hern leads the team with ten shots and six on frame.  Taylor is 2 for 2 in penalty kicks with one game winner on three shots on target. 
 
In goal, Carter has a 2.09 GAA in two starts with five goals against and 17 saves.  She is 1-0-1 on the year in 215:31 minutes.  Sophomore Samantha Blanford is 1-1 on the year with a 2.45 GAA in 183:59 minutes.  She has allowed five goals with 16 saves. 
 
As a team, the Blazers have scored 11 goals on the year with eight assists and 30 points.  The team has fired 48 shots with 30 on target.  VSU head coach Stephen Andrew is in his fourth season at the helm of the Blazers as he is 34-21-4 at VSU and 174-78-13 overall in 14 seasons of coaching.
 
Following the match on Friday, VSU will head into the GSC Spring Championship Series.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for more information on the GSC postseason.