VALDOSTA, Ga. –  The Valdosta State University women's soccer team is slated for two road matches this weekend, facing off against Shorter on Friday at 7 p.m. and at No. 9 Lee on Sunday at 1 p.m. The matches are the first two Gulf South Conference road matches for the Blazers this season. 

VSU, owns a 4-1-1 record on the season and. a 1-0-1 mark in the GSC, while Shorter is 1-6 overall and 0-4 in league play.  

The Blazers are 8-1-1 all-time against Shorter, with the most recent meeting last spring where the Blazers came out on top 2-1 in a double overtime thriller.  VSU has won all five matches in Rome, Ga. since 2012 and won 2-0 there on Oct. 25, 2018.  VSU has won four-straight in the series and Shorter's only win came on Sept. 25, 2015, in Valdosta, 1-0. The teams played to a 2-2 draw in Valdosta on Oct. 29, 2016. 

With a quick turnaround, VSU heads across the border to Cleveland, Tenn, to take on the Flames Sunday afternoon.  Lee enters with a 7-0 record and 4-0 mark in the GSC.  Lee has outscored the opposition 8-2 in its four GSC victories.  VSU is 2-7-1 all-time against Lee, with the Blazers picking up the team's first draw in the shortened spring 2021 season, 2-2, in Valdosta. The Blazers defeated the Flames in the 2019 fall season at home and in 2017 season on the road. 

Gameday Storylines  

  

 Dynamic Duo, Inside the Box Score 

This season, the Blazers are led by sophomore Bailey Hern and freshman Molly Woolridge, who each have recorded three goals and three assists for nine points.   

Hern leads the team with 15 shots and nine on target, along with one game-winner, while Woolridge has nine shots and three on frame.  

Junior Lauren Hicks has four points on the year with two goals.  Freshman Jocelyn Oballe is quickly finding her footing on the team, with two goals and two game-winning goals.  

Senior Samantha Blanford is 2-0-1 in five matches, with one goal scored against her in 14 saves combining for a 0.933 save percentage. She has played 304:45 minutes and was a key component in the Blazer's double-overtime draw against West Florida last Friday.  

As a team, the Blazers have scored 20 goals with 15 assists for 55 points. The team has recorded 91 shots (.220) with 54 on goal (.593) and four game-winners. VSU also has an own goal to its credit this season.    

Nationally speaking, the Blazers are 12th in assists per game at a 2.50 clip for second in the GSC, while they are 13th nationally in points per game at 9.17 to lead the league.  VSU is 12th nationally in scoring offense at 3.33 goals per game for tops in the league, while it is 19th nationally in total assists (15), 18th in total goals (20) and 19th in total points (55), all good for second in the league.  

Individually, Oballe is 19th nationally and second in the league in game winners (2).  Blanford is 13th nationally and second in the GSC in goals against average at a 0.295 clip.  She is seventh nationally in save percentage at a 0.933 average to lead the GSC.  Hern and Woolridge each are fourth in the GSC in assists with three apiece. 

  

 Looking at Shorter 

After a weekend of road matches falling to Delta State on September 24, 6-1, and Mississippi College on September 26, 4-0, the Hawks return home to welcome VSU.  In the GSC Coaches Preseason Poll, SU was voted to finish 12th in the conference. Four players each have one goal on the season, while Danielle Forsythe leads the team with three points on one goal and one assist.  The team is averaging 0.57 goals per game and 4.3 shots per game.  

Looking at No. 9 Lee 

The Flames come into Sunday's match with a 7-0 record, 4-0 in GSC play, and remain undefeated on the season. The team has outscored opponents 14-3 and score an average of two goals a game. Riley Henry leads the team in goals with three and eight points, while Alexis Hale is second in scoring with five points on two goals and one assist.  Goalkeeper Jackie Burns has started five matches for the Flames and has recorded 450 minutes on the season, allowing only two goals with a 0.40 GAA.  She has a 0.913 save percentage with 21 saves, faced 46 shots and recorded three shutouts.  She is 5-0 on the year. 

Upcoming Matches 

Following the weekend's matches, the Blazers continue their road trip, traveling to Mississippi College on Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. ET and at Delta State on Oct. 10 also at 2 p.m. ET.  VSU then returns home to host Union Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at the VSU Soccer Complex.  

To stay up to date on all things Blazer soccer, follow Blazer Athletics on social media or visit vstateblazers.com.