Montevallo opened their 2017 campaign with a tough road loss to Valdosta State University on Friday night. After taking an early lead through Allye Darnell's debut goal, the Falcons surrendered three consecutive Blazers' goals to fall in their first game back in the Gulf South Conference.
 
After opening the season with a rain delayed home match against Faulkner, the Falcons were playing in their first full game of the season.
           
Four freshmen made starts today and three more newcomers made appearances off the bench.
 
Seven minutes from time, the Falcons were gifted the chance to equalize when the game was 2-1, but Alyssa Curtis denied Allye Darnell a second goal.
 
In the final minute, Valdosta's Taylor Snell put the game out of reach with her second goal of the game.
 
Montevallo 1, Valdosta State 2
September 8, 2017
Valdosta, Georgia | VSU Soccer Complex
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
12' | Montevallo opened the scoring through Allye Darnell. The Kentucky native scored her first goal in a Falcons uniform.
 
29' | The goal saw a response from the Blazers and Jordan Humbert equalized with her third goal in three games.
 
53' | Valdosta State started the second half the stronger team and were rewarded in the 53^rd minute. Taylor Gonzales was dispossessed in the Blazers' half before a counter attack led to Taylor Snell giving Valdosta the lead after being put through one-on-one with Montevallo's goalie Sydney Young.
 
77' | The Falcons were reduced to ten after Hannah Waki received a red card.
 
83' | Montevallo was gifted a golden opportunity to come away from Georgia with a draw. Allye Darnell's penalty kick down the middle was saved by backup goalie Alyssa Curtis.
 
90' | Taylor Snell's second goal secured the win for the hosts. Haille Paterson delivered a cross which Snell converted for her fifth of the year.
 
GAME NOTES
 
-Montevallo was outshot 11 to 18 and only registered 8 shots on goal compared to the Blazers' total of 12.
 
-Despite the result, keeper Sydney Young had a big game in goal. She kept her team in the game with her career-high 9 saves.
 
-Montevallo received two yellow cards and one red card which was uncharacteristic of a Falcons' team. They only received one yellow card in all of the 2016 season.
 
-The Blazers had 12 more corners than the Montevallo, with a total of 14 compared to the Falcons' 2 corner kicks.
 
RECORDS
 
Montevallo 0-1 (0-1)
Valdosta State 3-0 (1-0)
 
UP NEXT
 
Montevallo's match on Sunday at West Florida has been postponed. Their next match will be a makeup of the Faulkner game. The Falcons travel to Montgomery on Tuesday, September 12^th and kickoff at 7 p.m. Central. They open home conference play on Friday, September 15^th against West Georgia at Varsity Field.