VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team fell 2-0 to rival West Georgia in the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams Sunday afternoon at the VSU Soccer Complex.  UWG scored the first goal 33 minutes into the contest and then added the insurance goal in the 85^th minute. 
 
The Blazers (1-2-1, 0-1 GSC) outshot the Wolves 14-10, but UWG (3-2, 1-0 GSC) held a 6-4 lead for shots on target for the contest.  Both teams recorded four saves with all four of the Blazers' coming in the first half.  Both teams had six corner kicks apiece. 
 
UWG had more of the offensive momentum early in the contest and capitalized at the 33:18 mark as Florence Pegrum scored her first goal of the season as she followed her own shot and save from VSU sophomore goalkeeper Emma Pruett for a 1-0 lead. 
 
The Blazers had an outstanding pair of sequences in the closing minutes of the half as sophomore Rachael Howard made a nifty move and pass to sophomore Ana Moleka, who put a shot from outside the 18, beating the UWG keeper but the ball unfortunately caromed off the far post and out. Right after that, senior Amber Saunders fired a strong shot which sailed just wide over the goal in a span of 42 seconds. 
 
VSU became more of the aggressor in the second half as freshman Victoria Bahr, sophomore Molly Wooldridge and Howard each had looks midway through the final half.  Moleka had a shot and save from UWG's Haley Brinkman at the 55:02 mark preserving the clean sheet for UWG to that point. 
 
Later, VSU had three corner kick opportunities and a pair of shots that were wide of the goal with just under 15 minutes remaining.  Blazer sophomore Taylor Morris had a shot and save from Brinkman and on the ensuing play, UWG capitalized with a shot from Catherine Reeves for a score at the 84:09 mark and a 2-0 lead.
 
VSU had two good looks late from sophomore Jocelyn Oballe and senior Bailey Hern, but both were off target.  
 
The Blazers, were led by Moleka and sophomore Kaley Mincy, each with two shots and both had one on frame earning Guardian Bank Blazer Players of the Game.  Pruett allowed the two goals and registered four saves, while Brinkman posted her third shutout of the season.  Pegrum finished with three shots and two on target with the goal, while Reeves had two shots and both on frame with a goal.
 
UWG takes a 1-0 lead in the annual Red Clay Rivalry Series.  VSU won the inaugural rivalry series last season, 7-4.  For each of the 11 sports in the rivalry, there is one point awarded to the school who wins the most contests in each sport in a given season.  If the schools only play once, the school who claims the regular season contest will earn the point.  If institutions play twice, a team must win both contests to win the point.  If in a two-game season and the teams split the series, each team will be awarded a half-point. In a three-game season, teams must win the series to earn the point.  The first school to reach six points in a given year will be declared the winner of the Red Clay Rivalry.
 
VSU returns to the road next week with a match on Friday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. ET, at West Florida, followed by a matchup at Spring Hill College on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 2 p.m. in Mobile, Ala.  The Blazers then return home to begin a four-match home stand Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. versus Shorter.