LIVINGSTON, Ala. – It was getting late and the West Alabama women's soccer team still trailed by a goal. With under 10 minutes to play, the Tigers came alive and scored two goals in the span of 1:27 to comeback and defeat Valdosta State, 2-1, in Gulf South Conference play Friday evening inside Tiger Stadium.
With the win, the Tigers move their unbeaten streak to five games, going 4-0-1 during that time. Also, with the win and the loss by Lee, UWA moves to third in the GSC standings with 22 points. West Florida (30 points) and Mississippi College (25) remain just ahead of the Tigers in the standings.
"Well done to the girls. Kept fighting until the end. I felt we lacked quality for the majority of the game in the final third. However, we executed two great goals so delighted with that," head coach Graeme Orr said.
UWA (8-4-1, 7-2-1 GSC) generated chances in the first half, but were only able to get one on target. Valdosta State (3-9-1, 2-8 GSC) held the slight 6-5 shot edge over the first 45 minutes and scored the only goal of the first half. In the 20th minute, a collision in the box led to a penalty kick being whistled. Bailey Hern stepped up to the line and knocked in the goal for the Blazers for the early 1-0 lead.
The Tigers continued to get looks early in the second half taking five shots that were just missing target. Then as the time started to tick down, a foul just outside of the box led to a free kick chance for UWA. Selis Demirci took the kick for the Tigers and hit a perfect chip shot-pass into the box where Dana Cruz was waiting. Cruz was able to get position and rip a shot to the lower left corner for the tying goal in the 83rd minute. Cruz upped her team-leading goal tally to seven on the season.
UWA wasn't content with just tying the game. Just 1:27 later, the Tigers were back on the attack. After working the ball up field, Cruz crossed it to Paige Laidler who settled the ball and let it go from roughly 30 yards out. Her rocket of a shot beat the goalie and pushed UWA to the lead at 2-1 in the 84th minute.
VSU had a couple of looks down the stretch with a shot that went high in the 85th minute and then a corner kick try in the 88th minute didn't generate a shot and left UWA with the 2-1 victory.
UWA held the slight 12-11 edge in shots, while VSU had the 5-3 advantage in shots on target. The Blazers took 11 corner kicks to five for the Tigers and there were a combined 16 fouls, nine whistled on UWA.
Cruz led the way with four shots and a goal. Sierra O'Grady tallied three shots, with one on target. Laidler scored on her only shot attempt of the night. Emily Djagbare, Laidler, Lucy Horn, O'Grady, Maria Mon, and Saylor Richard played all 90 minutes. Mon tallied the win in goal making four saves.
Hern and Victoria Bahr led VSU with four shots apiece. Emma Pruett started in goal, allowing both goals and making one save.
UWA, now 6-0 at home this season, will close the regular season portion of the home slate this Sunday for Senior Day against West Georgia starting at 1 p.m. at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers will honor their two seniors, Paige Laidler and Maria Mon, roughly 10 minutes before the start of the match.
