Which team holds an advantage when neither team has seen much of the other team on the field? 
 
That is the question that will be answered when Alabama State (3-8 overall, 0-2 SWAC) will meet Howard University (3-7-1 overall, 2-0 SWAC) on Sunday at 1 p.m. in a conference match.
 
The game will be considered a "home" contest for Howard, but it will be played just outside of Birmingham in Vestavia Hills, Ala., at the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex. 
 
It will be the first-ever meeting between the schools on the soccer field as the Bison are new entries in the SWAC for women's soccer this season.
 
"It's an out of region type game," said ASU coach Jodie Smith. "There are some challenges because we don't know a lot about them.  We haven't seen them play so it creates a unique match up and we are looking forward to it."    
 
ASU will be looking to build upon its success that it obtained during the first half of last Sunday's match at Texas Southern, in which the Lady Hornets controlled possession and had a 1-0 lead at halftime.
 
"We're evolving as a team," Smith added.  "We've dealt with some injuries so some of the roles on the team are changing.  I was pleased with the first half [against Texas Southern].  We were able to create a lot of chances.  We're going to need that on Sunday."   
 
Among those players whose role has shifted includes junior Shelbi Vienna-Hallam at the top of the pecking order.  Vienna-Hallam has been among the Lady Hornets' most consistent players thus far as she scored her first career goal against Texas Southern after coach Smith elected to shift the Australian from defender to forward. 
 
Sophomore Aaliyah Lewis assisted on the play for her third of the season and moved into a three-way tie for second place all-time in Alabama State women's soccer history for assists with 10.  Lewis is now tied with Alexandria Cannon (2012-present) and Lenna Lamas (2010-12).  Only Anastasia McCleary (2012-13) remains ahead of Lewis with 13 assists. 
 
Lewis leads the Lady Hornets in most offensive categories and ranks high among the top players in the SWAC. 
 
The Anchorage, Alaska native is second in the conference for shots taken (29), fifth in shots taken per match (2.64), third in points (nine), fourth in goals (three), tied for second in assists (three), is tied for fourth in assists per match (0.27) is tied for ninth in goals per match (0.27) and is first in game-winning goals (two).  
 
On the other side of the field, the Bison have been playing some of their best soccer of the season, reeling off three consecutive victories including SWAC road wins at Alcorn State (a 2-1 victory) and at Mississippi Valley State (a 3-1 victory) last Friday and last Sunday. 
 
Senior Nia Walcott leads the SWAC in shots taken with 30, is fourth in points (eight), tied for second in goals (four), and is fifth in goals per match (0.36).  Walcott also has a game-winning goal on the season. 
 
Nikanya Clark is second on the team with three goals and an assist.  Clark has taken 27 shots thus far. 
 
The Bison also have done a nice job of keeping the ball out of their net.  Kyra Dickinson leads the SWAC in goals-against average (1.57) and save percentage (.775).  She is fifth in saves with 62. 
 
Lady Hornets' senior goalkeeper Kylee Hathaway leads the SWAC in shutouts with three and is third in saves with 88. 
 
                                                                              #GOHORNETS#