MOULTRIE — A ball that bounced off a Colquitt County defender and into the Packers net for an own goal in the second half proved to be the difference as Valdosta took a Region 1-AAAAA victory on Friday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

The Colquitt County girls won the evening’s first match, defeating the Lady Wildcats 4-2.

The Lady Packers got two goals from Alba Hernandez and one each from Sha Wetherington and Abbey Taylor to raise their record to 9-2 overall and 4-1 in Region 1-AAAAA.

Colquitt County’s girls bounced back nicely from a 6-0 loss to Tift County on Wednesday, their first region loss of the season.

The Valdosta girls fall to 2-7 overall and 1-6 in the region.

In the boys match, Valdosta jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a first-half goal by Ryan Steltenpohl, but the Packers tied the match on a direct kick by Matt DeMott.

But with about 15 minutes remaining in the match, as Colquitt County was trying to clear the ball, it slipped off the foot of the Packers defender and squirted past goalkeeper Michael Murray to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.

“We had our chances in the final 15 minutes,” Packers coach Randall Balch said. “We had six or seven good shots on goal, but just couldn’t put one in.”

Colquitt County will travel to Thomasville this morning.