AMERICUS, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team returned to the field for the first time since Sept. 21 on Friday evening in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Alabama Huntsville. With the loss, VSU fell to 3-4 on the year and 0-2 in GSC play. UAH improved to 3-4-1 overall and 2-1-1 in league play.
The Blazers scored two goals in the second half after trailing 1-0 at intermission and held a 2-1 lead courtesy of a great goal from senior
Ana Moleka with an assist from junior
Katherine Kimmel at the 57:25 mark as Moleka as she scorched a ball to the upper corner outside the box.
VSU's lead was short lived, however, as UAH responded with a goal from Addison Knauss just over one minute later helped out by a poorly cleared ball from the Blazers and Knauss beat Blazer senior goalkeeper
Emma Pruett for the equalizer.
Both teams had chances down the stretch, but UAH's Jayla Gillespie scored her second goal of the season at the 87:52 mark for a 3-2 UAH lead. With very little time remaining, the Blazers were unable to get much going in the closing minutes as the desperately tried for the tying score.
The scoring for the second half began as Moleka was pulled down on a breakaway in the box by UAH's Olivia Marlow, who received a straight red card at the 56:16 mark. Kimmel took the PK and leveled the match at 1-1 at that point. VSU then took the lead just 1:11 later and then UAH tied moments after that as there were three goals in a matter of 2:42 of game time.
For the match, UAH held a 19-7 lead in shots and an 11-5 advantage in shots on goal. Pruett had eight saves for VSU in the match, while the Blazers had two corner kicks to one for the Chargers.
Moleka finished with three shots on target and a goal, while Kimmel had one shot on goal, the PK and an assist. Pruett finished with eight saves.
Thanks to Georgia Southwestern for allowing the Blazers to play their two home matches in Americus, Ga., this weekend as VSU will close out the weekend slate with a 1 p.m. match at GSW on Sunday versus West Alabama.
