LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Two goals by West Alabama in a matter of 1:27 in the final ten minutes of the match handed the Valdosta State women's soccer team a 2-1 loss Friday evening in Gulf South Conference play.  VSU led 1-0 for a majority of the contest courtesy of a penalty kick from senior Bailey Hern, before UWA's Dana Cruz had the equalizer at the 82:21 mark and then Paige Laidler added go ahead score at the 83:48 mark.
 
With the loss, VSU fell to 3-9-1 overall and 2-8 in GSC play, while UWA improved to 8-4-1 overall and 7-2-1 in league play.  VSU finished the match with 11 shots and five on target and one save, while collecting 11 corner kicks.  UWA finished with 12 shots and three on target with four saves and five set pieces. 
 
Off a free kick for UWA, Selis Demirici chipped the ball into the box and Cruz scored for a 1-1 score at the 82:21 mark.  Moments later, Paige Laidler scored from a shot 30-yards out with an assist from Cruz for a 2-1 UWA lead.  Looking for the equalizer, freshman Victoria Bahr had a shot that went wide at the 84:16 mark and a corner kick opportunity at 87:10, but were unable to capitalize. 
 
Individually, Hern had the lone goal with four shots and two on target earning Guardian Bank Player of the Match.  Bahr also had four shots and two on frame for the contest.  Sophomore Emma Pruett had one save in 90 minutes. 
 
Cruz finished with four shots and one on frame with one goal and one assist, while Laidler scored on her one attempt.  Maria Mon finished with four saves and one goal allowed on the penalty kick for UWA.
 
VSU had the early momentum as senior Hannah Schroder headed a shot wide off a corner kick from sophomore Kaley Mincy at the 13:26 mark.  Hern then converted a penalty kick at the 19:12 mark following a foul on West Alabama in the box for a 1-0 lead.  It was Hern's second goal of the season. 
 
The match remained 1-0 through the rest of the first half, as VSU had six shots with three on target for the half, while UWA finished the first stanza with five shots and one on target.  Pruett had one save in the opening stanza, while Mon had two saves.  Bahr had three shots and two on goal in the first half.
 
Bahr attempted three corner kicks in a span of approximately four minutes early in the second half and Mon saved Hern's shot at the 62:29 mark as VSU had eight set pieces to that point.  UWA had a good look by Mikayla Anderson, but her shot sailed wide at the 68:14 mark.  After a number of shots by UWA that went off target, Hern had two shots blocked and a save by Mon on a shot from sophomore Molly Wooldridge at the 80:22 mark. 
 
The Blazers return to action on Sunday at Alabama Huntsville for a 2 p.m. ET kick.  Fans can access links to live stats and streaming of the match at vstateblazers.com on the women's soccer schedule page.