Around this time last season, the Alabama State women's soccer team began to play arguably their best soccer of the season, reeling off 11 consecutive victories and earning an 8-0 record in the month of October to roll into the SWAC playoffs.
 
Now, Lady Hornets' eighth-year coach Jodie Smith is looking to rekindle that fire from his team. 
 
The signs has started to trickle in as the team flashed a portion of that competitive nature with the team's offensive output perked up with four goals in its' last three matches and two in the first half alone against Howard University this past Sunday. 
 
Now, ASU (3-9 overall, 0-3 SWAC) is looking to bring it all together and make it count down the stretch as the team will hold five of its' final seven matches at the ASU Soccer Complex.  It begins Friday at 7 p.m. against SWAC opponent Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-12, 0-4 SWAC). 
 
As expected, home has brought good vibes to the Lady Hornets as the team had a 6-3 record in Montgomery during the 2013 campaign and it holds a 1-1 mark thus far this season.  The schedule has been road-heavy for ASU through the opening 12 matches with nine of those coming on the road and the other being in a neutral location. 
 
"It's nice to get some matches at home," said coach Smith.  "Now would be a good time for us to start putting wins together to get us into good position for the conference tournament." 
 
On offense, sophomore Aaliyah Lewis continues to add on to her all-time career point total as the school's record holder.  Lewis scored twice in the Howard match to boost her totals up to five goals on the season.  She now has 56 career points (23 goals, 10 assists) and currently leads the SWAC with 13 points on the 2014 slate. 
 
Lewis has been flanked in recent matches by emerging offensive threats Kayla Edwards and Shelbi Vienna-Hallam, who have each given the Lady Hornets some pep in their step.  The hustle play from each has been noticeable. 
 
"We've been able to put more pressure on teams through our offense," said coach Smith. "Those things are coming around.  We are starting to see those things pay off with some of our position players.  Players need some time to develop some chemistry together.  Shelbi [Vienna-Hallam] is a tremendous player and is comfortable with the ball.  She has created some offensive chances for us and can strike the ball well. And, Kayla [Edwards] has been involved in the offensive activity as well.  Kayla can play from the left side and can get end to end if she needs to so that's been important." 
 
The Lady Hornets will have to get better on the defense side as it has allowed at least three goals in six of its' last seven matches. 
 
"We're going to have to be more organized and communicate better," coach Smith said.   
 
ASU does have history on its' side as it defeated the Golden Lions in both meetings last season by the scores of 3-1 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and 5-2 in the SWAC Tournament in Houston, Texas.