The Alabama State women's soccer team dug deep for a come-from-behind 2-1 conference victory against Alabama A&M on a gusty and rainy senior night that celebrated the careers of four players at the ASU Soccer Complex on Friday night. 
 
The Lady Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead into halftime on a goal by Fatmata Mansaray.  

With the rain falling steadily throughout the opening half, it made for a gritty showing by each team as players were losing their footing at times and sliding all over the field.
 
Late in the game, the Lady Hornets (10-9 overall, 7-3 SWAC) stormed back to snatch away the victory with goals by Aaliyah Lewis and Shelbi Vienna-Hallam in the 76^th and 82^nd minute. 

Vienna-Hallam first set up Lewis for her conference-leading 16^th goal of the season. 

Then, with ASU putting mounting pressure on the A&M defense, came right back for the winner by Vienna-Hallam on a pretty slip pass from Kayla Edwards. 
 
Vienna-Hallam, who was brought up primarily as a defender on the soccer field, said that she didn't think that she ever came up with a winning goal in a match before tonight. 
 
But, with the score tied at 1-1 late in the match and Vienna-Hallam now one of the driving forces of the ASU offense, the opportunity was there for the taking. 
 
"I thought to myself, 'Don't overthink it,'" said Vienna-Hallam, who notched her first career winning goal with ASU.

"It was a good team goal.  Josh [Kayla Edwards] made a nice pass.  We didn't want to let them [the seniors] down on their day.   I remember looking at the clock with around 18 minutes left and thought that we need to get this.  It's just a really good feeling!" 
 
ASU was able to keep a couple of streaks alive as well by winning their conference-best seventh consecutive game and pushed their mark to eight straight games in which the team has scored at least twice. 

The Lady Hornets also finished out the 2014 campaign with a home record of 6-1. 
 
Individually, Lewis matched her single-season point record of 43 with her goal.  
 
ASU outshot A&M 17-5 including 10-4 in the second half.   
 
The jersey numbers that seniors Kylee Hathaway, Alexandria Cannon, Iita Pienimaki and Malinda Smith had worn for their playing careers were stenciled onto the field and the players were honored with a special pre-game ceremony complete with framed portraits of them in action. 

The four were escorted out to the center of the field while their accomplishments were read to the Lady Hornets' faithful. 
 
Marissa Oehler made three saves for the Lady Bulldogs (3-12-4 overall, 3-4-3 SWAC).

Alabama State will now wait to hear word on their game time from the conference for the SWAC Tournament, which begins on Thursday in Huntsville, Ala. 
 
Times for matches are set for 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. 
 
                                                                                                        #GOHORNETS#