MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Montevallo women's soccer opens Gulf South Conference action this week as the Falcons play host to Auburn Montgomery and Valdosta State.
So Far This Season…
Montevallo heads into the weekend with a 1-1-1 overall record after opening the season with a 1-0 win over Kentucky Wesleyan on Sept. 5. The Falcons fell to long-time NCAA Tournament team McKendree, 3-2, in a neutral site matchup on Sept. 7. Montevallo nearly knocked off No. 9 Catawba last Saturday but couldn't find the back of the net and ended with a 0-0 draw on the road.
Through three games, Montevallo has allowed three goals with a pair of shutouts already on the record. The Falcon defense has held its opponents to just 26 shots with 11 shots on target for an average of 8.7 shots per game. UM's attack has tallied three goals on the season with a total of 36 shots including 17 shots on frame. The Falcons' frontline averages 12.0 shots per game while dishing out assists on each goal.
A trio of UM newcomers lead the Falcons' scoring with freshman
Madison Bennett and transfers
Rilee Bradbury and
Shadia Valenzuela adding a goal apiece.
Raylene Alcaraz leads Montevallo with a pair of assists while
Morgan Goehring holds the third UM assist. In the net,
Emily Hounsell has played every minute this season with a total of seven saves and a .700 save percentage.
Scouting AUM: WATCH | LIVE STATS
AUM enters Wednesday's meeting with a 2-1 overall record with a season-opening 2-0 win over Albany State on Sept. 5. The Warhawks then fell, 1-0, to Clayton State on Sept. 8 before adding a 4-2 victory over Edward Waters on Sept. 11.
The Warhawks are averaging two goals per game with a total of six goals through three games while dishing out four assists. With a total of 39 shots, AUM averages 13 shots per game with a total of 17 shots on frame. AUM's backline has held the opposition to just 28 shots with 17 shots on goal while opponents score just one goal per game.
Individually, Laia Gonzalez and Michaelyn Manning lead the Warhawk attack with a pair of goals while Lauren Akemon and Reia Henry each recorded a goal. Chloe Wallace leads the team with a pair of assists while Akemon and Aurora Gobbi added the final two assists. Karla Guzman-Ortiz, like Hounsell, has played all 270 minutes this season in goal with three goals allowed on 28 shots faced with 14 saves for a .824 save percentage.
Series History Against AUM:
Historically, Montevallo has a stronghold on the series with AUM. The Falcons boast a 10-2-1 overall record against the Warhawks with the last loss coming on Sept. 7, 2010 with a 1-0 loss coming in Montgomery, Ala. Most recently, Montevallo topped AUM, 3-1, on the road on Oct. 13, 2023.
Scouting Valdosta State: WATCH | LIVE STATS
The Lady Blazers have gone 2-2 to open the season with a 3-0 win in the season opener against Middle Georgia on Sept. 5. A 1-0 win over North Greenville on Sept. 7 was the last time VSU has tasted victory with a pair of losses in the last two games. Firstly, Embry-Riddle took a 3-1 win over Valdosta State on Sept. 11 before Georgia College handed VSU a 3-0 on Sept. 14.
The Lady Blazers have tallied five goals on the season with 28 shots on goal and a total of 48 shots through four games. Valdosta State has assisted on four goals so far this season while taking 28 corners. Defensively, Valdosta State has given up six goals on 15 shots on target and 30 total shots while allowing 15 corners from opponents.
Individually, VSU is led by five separate goal scorers while Katherine Kimmel leads the squad with a pair of assists. Emma Pruett and Claire Timberlake have split time in goal with Pruett leading the charge with 264 minutes played. Both keepers have allowed three goals with Pruett leading at six saves and a .667 save percentage.
Series History Against Valdosta State:
The Falcons and Lady Blazers are deadlocked in the all-time series with a 4-4-1 record for both sides. The Falcons have come out on top in four of the last five meetings with the lone blemish coming in 0-0 draw on March 10, 2021. Most recently, Montevallo took a 1-0 win over the Lady Blazers on Sept. 17, 2023.
