VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's soccer team got back on the winning track with a 3-0 victory over visiting Georgia Southwestern on Wednesday evening at the VSU Soccer Complex.
The Blazers (3-2) improved to 3-0 all-time against Georgia Southwestern (1-3) and have outscored the Hurricanes 11-0 in the three meetings in program history.
After a 45-minute rain delay, the teams were able to take the field at 6:50 and the Blazers controlled the attack for much of the first twenty minutes of play. The Blazers had a free kick from the corner from freshman
Maria Rojas, but GSW goalkeeper Alana Beddow was up to the challenge for her first save of the game and the fourth shot of the contest by the Blazers at the 19:04 mark.
Senior Molly Woodridge took a nice pass from freshman
Jenni McIntosh for Wooldridge's first goal of the season and a 1-0 lead at the 24:10 mark. It was Wooldridge's 22
nd career goal in her storied career as a Blazer. The game remained 1-0 in favor of the Blazers the remainder of the half.
For the half, VSU had seven shots with two on target, while GSW didn't have a shot in the half. Beddow had the one save. Wooldridge had two shots and the one goal for the Blazers in the opening 45 minutes.
Junior
Hunter Wallace took a great cross from fellow junior
Katherine Kimmel and a quick touch for her first goal of the season and a 2-0 lead at the 58:35 mark. It was Kimmel's team-leading third assist of the year. Just over six minutes later, VSU was tackled in the box as Kimmel buried the penalty kick for a 3-0 lead at the 64:19 mark.
The fouls started to add up in the second half on both sides, while both teams were issued yellow cards. Despite all of this, the Blazers kept their composure and preserved the clean sheet. Sophomore goalkeeper
Tori Vliet came in for the final eight minutes and took over for senior goalkeeper
Emma Pruett, as Vliet saw her first action of the season.
For the game, VSU dominated from the get go as it held a 12-3 lead in shots and a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal, while Wooldridge finished with two shots, one on frame and the game winning goal in the first half. Kimmel finished with one goal and one assist as she had two shots and both on target. Pruett played 82:54 minutes, while Vliet finished the game with the final 7:06 for the combined clean sheet.
VSU returns to the road on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Montevallo in the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams. The Blazers next will be at home versus Trevecca Nazarene on Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., followed by a Sept. 29 matchup with rival Lee at 1 p.m.
