MOBILE, Ala. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team scored a season-high four goals in a 4-0 win at Spring Hill College, Sunday afternoon. With the win, VSU improved to 4-5-1 on the year and 1-3-1 in Gulf South Conference play, while Spring Hill fell to 5-5-2 overall and 2-2-2 in league play.
The Blazers posted their fifth shutout of the season (4-0-1) and held SHC scoreless for the seventh-straight meeting, while improving to 8-0-2 all-time against the Badgers. VSU has not allowed a goal by SHC in the last 674:10 minutes of action dating back to a 1-1 tie in 2016.
VSU got things started early as sophomore
Kaitlyn Scherer scored her first goal as a Blazer just 7:48 into the contest as freshman
Anna Dandeneau had her first assist of the season for a 1-0 lead. The Blazers dominated the attacking end for much of the half, as Dandeneau had a great chance 20 minutes in, but SHC goalkeeper Carlotta Stark was up to the challenge.
The Badgers Thyri Willumsdottir was looking for the equalizer at the 27:58 mark, but chipped woodwork with a ball off the post and the rebounded shot went wide right from Riley Davis. Late in the half, VSU had a corner kick and senior
Molly Muenchen put one on target off the set piece, but Stark was there, once again.
Muenchen would have another chance, however, as she scored with just 23 seconds left in the opening half and a 2-0 lead on an assist from senior Joceyln Oballe. It was Muenchen's second goal of the season and the second assist for Oballe.
For the half, VSU had seven shots with four on target and two scores, while SHC had four shots and one on target for Blazer junior goalkeeper
Claire Timberlake. Timberlake tied her career-high with nine saves on Friday at No. 15 West Florida.
VSU then had a good chance with a free kick, a blocked shot and a corner kick at the 59:08 mark, but freshman
Maria Rojas' shot was just high. Moments later, VSU was awarded another free kick which resulted in a corner as Dandeneau put one to the corner post, but Stark was there for the save at the 61:08 mark.
A good shot and save from Timberlake followed with SHC's Poppy Binding getting a great attempt on frame. VSU added its third goal of the match in the 77
th minute as sophomore
Sarah Hudson scored her second goal of the season with an assist from senior
Ansley Decenzo. In the 87
th minute, sophomore
Kayleigh Kearns scored her first collegiate goal with an assist from junior
Victoria Bahr and the 4-0 final margin.
VSU finished with 18 shots and 11 on goal, while registering four corner kicks and four assists. Senior
Molly Wooldridge had four shots and one on target to lead the team in shots, while Muenchen had three shots and two on target with one goal. Timberlake finished with two saves in the match in all 90 minutes for her second shutout of the season and first victory of the 2024 campaign (1-2-1).
The Blazers return home to host a makeup match with Trevecca Nazarene on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. at the VSU Soccer Field, before returning to the road for a Saturday matchup at Auburn Montgomery on Oct. 19.
