CLINTON, Miss. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team scored two goals in a span of 9:53 minutes in the second half for record-setting 2-0 victory at Mississippi College Friday evening.  The win was the first in program history for the Blazers over the Choctaws.  Freshman Maria Rojas scored the game-winner in the 73^rd minute and senior Jocelyn Oballe added the insurance goal in the 83^rd minute.  The win clinched a berth for the Blazers in the Gulf South Conference postseason championship tournament.
 
The Blazers improved to 8-6-1 this season and 5-4-1 in Gulf South Conference play and picked up three huge conference points in the standings giving them 16 conference points with two matches to play.  The Choctaws fell to 7-5-3 overall and 3-5-3 in league play.
 
The win gave VSU its first victory over the Choctaws in program history as it previously was 0-9-1 all-time against MC and marked the first victory in Clinton in seven tries (1-6).  VSU had scored just three goals all-time against the Choctaws prior to Friday evening and never more than one goal in a match.  Due to heavy rains in the area, the match was moved Friday afternoon to Clinton High School from Mississippi College as the original start time was 2 p.m. ET and moved to 6 p.m. ET.
 
The first half was a scoreless draw, but both teams had chances as MC's Margherita Giubilato had a good look just 4:33 into the contest, but VSU junior goalkeeper Claire Timberlake was there for the save.  The Blazers had a couple of looks but the ball sailed wide.  In the 34^th minute, Mary Ella White of MC had a good look as Timberlake was there again for the save and then in the 41^st minute, Blazer senior Molly Wooldridge fired a high shot to the right corner, but MC keeper Jessi Carro was there for the save.  For the half, both teams had five shots with one on frame for the Blazers and two for the Choctaws. 
 
Both teams kept the shots firing early in the second half, but the shots were all wide of the frame.  VSU had seven shots through the first 60 minutes, while MC had eight.  Both teams had two shots on target.   With the tension building as the match went on, VSU got the breakthrough goal as Rojas scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season at the 72:26 mark for a 1-0 lead.  It marked just the second time VSU has held a lead on Mississippi College in series history and the latest into a match.  The Blazers led 1-0 on Oct. 8, 2023, also in Clinton, on a goal by current senior Ana Moleka and an assist from Wooldridge just 12:10 into the contest for the first lead in program history.   MC tied the game later in the half and scored the winner just 3:14 into the second half by Giubilato in the regular season match that year.
 
The offensive momentum continued Friday evening as Oballe scored at the 82:19 mark for the insurance goal and a 2-0 lead on the heels of two shots from Wooldridge which were blocked.  With the end clearly in sight, the Blazers kept the pressure on the Choctaws as they were unable to get another shot the rest of the match. 
 
VSU held a 12-11 lead in shots and a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal as Timberlake came up with four saves for her third shutout of the season and improved to 5-3-1 on the year.  Rojas tallied her first game winning goal of her career.  She finished with one shot for the score.  Oballe also had one shot with her goal for her first goal of the season and her seventh career score.  Wooldridge paced the team with four shots and one on target.   
 
The Choctaws were shutout for the fourth time this season (0-3-1) and were led by three shots and two on goal from White.  Carro finished with two goals allowed and two saves between the posts.
 
The Blazers continue in The Magnolia State on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET at Delta State.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for links to live stats, audio/video streaming and more on the women's soccer schedule page.