MOULTRIE — Alba Hernandez got her first varsity hat trick on Tuesday in a 6-1 Colquitt County girls soccer victory over Valdosta that gives the Lady Packers an early spot atop the Region 1-AAAAA standings.

But in the nightcap, Valdosta scored a goal with 3:29 left in the second overtime to defeat the Packers 1-0.

The Colquitt County girls jumped to a 4-0 first-half lead before Valdosta managed its only goal of the match with 3:14 left before intermission.

Kristin Hall got the Lady Packers on the scoreboard first with her fourth goal of the season less than 12 minutes into the match.

Then Hernandez scored what proved to be the game-winner with 19:45 left in the half to put the Lady Packers up 2-0.

Sarah Tyndall scored her first goal of the season to make it 3-0 with 9:09 remaining before intermission.

Just 1:45 later, Hernandez scored her second goal to make it 4-0.

Kristin Kirkpatrick got the lone Valdosta goal, but the Lady Cats were unable to put another past Colquitt County keeper Kaitlyn Price in the final 43 minutes.

Lady Packers coach Jimbo Jarvis did not rein in his team in the second half.

With 12:57 left in the match, Sha Wetherington punched in the rebound of her own shot to make it 5-1.

Then Hernandez got her third goal of the night and eighth in four matches with 1:50 left to give the Lady Packers a five-goal margin.

Hernandez now has scored nine goals in two matches against Valdosta this season, including six in 22 minutes in a junior varsity match last week.

And while Jarvis is pleased with an offense that has scored 14 goals in the last three matches after a 3-1 loss to Warner Robins in the season-opener, he is most pleased with his defense.

After shutting out Westover on Friday, the Lady Packers have allowed single goals to Ware County on Saturday and to Valdosta on Tuesday.

“I’m pleased with how mature on defense we’ve been,” Jarvis said. “What is it they say? Defenses win championships.

“Our clears are so much better. Jessica, Alex and Morgan can send it 40 yards on a clear and that gives our midfield a chance to settle it and start another attack.”

Jarvis sounded as if he would like another shot at Warner Robins.

“I think if we played them tonight, we would play them a much better game,” he said. “I think we had first-game jitters the first game.”

The boys game was 0-0 after regulation and after the first five-minute overtime period.

But Valdosta’s got a goal from Sean Zimmerman with 3:29 left in the second and the Wildcats held on to go to 2-0 in the region. Valdosta defeated Lowndes 5-3 last week.

“For 87 minutes, there was outstanding play by both teams,” said Packers coach Randall Balch. “We just had a breakdown on defense and they took advantage of it.

“But I told them that even after a loss, if they left it on the field, they should hold their heads up high. And they did.”

The Packers are now 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the region. Colquitt travels to Albany to meet Dougherty High tonight. The girls start at 5:30 p.m.