Kayla Edwards continued to assert herself as one of the SWAC'S most dangerous threats, speeding ahead of defenders and making sharp turns to create just enough separation to make her move.
 
The sophomore from Cypress, Calif. came through with two first-half goals and the Alabama State women's soccer team utilized a spry opening 45 minutes to beat the Devilettes 3-1 Friday night in a conference match at the ASU Soccer Complex. 
 
As has been the case during this current five-match winning streak, the Lady Hornets (8-9 overall, 5-3 SWAC) went to work early and sprung out to a lead when Edwards got ASU on board first with 37:48 left in the half on an assist from Shelbi Vienna-Hallam.  
 
The trio of Edwards, Vienna-Hallam and Aaliyah Lewis was once again a force to be reckon with up front as each applied pressure early and often. 

Lewis took five shots on target, Edwards fired four and Vienna-Hallam put two shots on point. 
 
Mississippi Valley State (2-10-3 overall, 2-3-3 SWAC) combated some of that ASU energy when freshman Heather Craddock nearly drew the score even, but her shot bounced off the cross bar in the 13^th minute. 
 
But, the Lady Hornets were able to push the ball deep into the Valley's goal area. 
 
Edwards worked inside the six-yard box with 31:36 remaining in the half to score her second tally on a pretty feed from Lewis to give ASU a 2-0 advantage. 

It gave Edwards six goals for the season.
 
"I was on my rhythm today," said Edwards, who is ranks third on the team with 14 points.   

"It helped that Aaliyah was on the same page with me.  She gave me a lot of chances.   We've been working on our shots a lot in practice.  We had a drill where we had to finish 12 goals before we stopped."
 
The Lady Hornets were also able to keep its streak alive on scoring multiple goals in a match.  ASU has now scored at least twice in six consecutive matches during the month of October.  And, they've been able to do with consistent quick starts. 
 
"I feel like getting off to a good start helps the rest of the team," Edwards said.

"Being involved in the game a lot will help us win the game.  We started [the season] off slowly, but the beginning isn't what matters.  It's how we finish.  We just had to find our rhythm."
 
The Devilettes cut the lead to 2-1 when Craddock sped ahead to create some space and went to her right to find the net. 
 
Vienna-Hallam helped the Lady Hornets recapture a two-goal advantage when she scored from the left side after a hard-hit ball shot from Lewis deflected off goal keeper Rita Gyasi's hands.  

Vienna-Hallam raced up to get in prime position for a one-on-one situation with Gyasi, who was put in a vulnerable position after diving to make the initial save.    

Vienna-Hallam finished with a goal and an assist. 

She is second on the team with four goals and eight assists. 
 
Lewis was credited with two assists to bump her total up to eight on the season. 

In the process, Lewis became the all-time leader in career assists with 15 passing Anastasia McCleary, who had 13 assists.   
 
Kylee Hathaway made eight saves for ASU while Gyasi made 10 saves for MVSU. 
 
Next, Alabama State will play Alcorn State on Sunday at 1 p.m. in a SWAC match. 
                                                                                                                       
#GOHORNETS#