VALDOSTA, Ga. — It's been a long 14 months.
 
With a handful of postponements to begin an already delayed season, the Flagler College women's soccer team finally completed its first competitive game since its NCAA Final Four run over a year ago Wednesday night in a season-opening, 2-1, win at Valdosta State University.
 
The anticipation was obvious from the visiting Saints (1-0), and they wasted no time getting on the board. Just 21 seconds in, Brin Wexler matched her assist total in 2019 with a ball up the middle to Sara Sandberg as the senior out-ran the defenders and put the first goal into the right corner.
 
The quick score put Sandberg with the two quickest goals in Flagler women's soccer history, with her other being in 2018 versus Florida Southern College when she scored in 15 seconds via an assist from Annie Habeeb. 
 
"We are thrilled to have finally played a regular-season game in more than 14 months," Flagler head coach Ashley Martin said. "We got off to a dream start with a goal in the first minute thanks to some good defensive work, a quick counterattack, and a superb finish from Sara Sandberg."
 
The forward, who scored 25 goals a season ago, wasn't finished either. As the 64th minute approached, she took a rebounded shot and finished it to give the Saints what proved to be the game-winning goal. Sandberg led Flagler with five shots, while Habeeb, Jess Leach and Maria Castorino Mujica each had four apiece.
 
Just under four minutes later, the Blazers (0-1) capitalized on an attack of their own as Rachael Howard pushed a pass through to Kyleigh Reedy who scored to cut the Flagler lead in half. The Saints held tough the rest of the way, though, as they had 23 shots (14 on goal) versus VSU goalkeeper Samantha Blanford who hauled in 12 saves, while Flagler keeper Sarah-Lisa Dubel saw 10 shots (five on goal) and had four saves.
 
"Valdosta gave us a great test and pushed us all the way to the final whistle," Martin said. "It pleased me that we battled hard and found a way to win a very tough game. Now, we hit the reset button and our focus switches to our first PBC game Sunday versus Francis Marion."
 
Flagler welcomes Francis Marion University for its conference-opening match on Saints Field Sunday at noon.
 
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