From bad bounces to mistimed dives and a penalty shot that was awarded in Prairie View A&M's favor, things just seemed to go the Panthers' way in a 5-1 win on Friday night against the Alabama State women's soccer team in each team's SWAC opener. 
 
The Lady Hornets (3-7 overall, 0-1 SWAC) did have their opportunities though. 
 
ASU got on the board when sophomore defender Kayla Edwards scored her first career goal from about 15 yards away on an angled shot that was assisted by Aaliyah Lewis in the 17^th minute.  The shot nestled into the top right hand corner of the goal to knot the score at 1-1. 
 
The score remained tied until the 39^th minute when senior Katherine Sheppard was able to knock in a rebound off a pass from Melissa Kalbfleisch to give PVAMU a 2-1 lead heading into halftime. 
 
The Panthers (2-6 overall, 1-0 SWAC) put forth a quick-strike offense early in the second half by scoring two goals in a one minute and one second span. 
 
It began when junior midfielder Kara Ballard lofted a high, arching shot from just inside the penalty area to make it a 3-1 advantage.

The assist came from Sheppard, who finished with a goal and two assists. 

Senior Celene Batrez also found the back of the net for PVAMU and sophomore forward Alicia Cooper struck first for the Panthers in the fifth minute. 
 
ASU attempted a comeback when Edwards nearly scored her second goal of the night on a rocketed shot that drifted just high of the goal. 

Then, moments later, Lewis rushed down the field to beat a defender, but fired just wide of the post. 

Malinda Smith provided good hustle plays for the Lady Hornets as well by coming up several times with pass deflections that sailed out of harm's way. 
 
The match became heated when Emily Ziolkowski was issued a red card after the teams fought for the ball near the ASU goal.

Lady Hornets' goalkeeper Kylee Hathaway took a moment to get back to her feet after being a bit shaken up and Ziolkowski was called for a hand ball.

The Panthers' Debbie Arguelles connected on the awarded penalty kick. 
 
Prairie View outshot Alabama State 19-8, but only 9-6 in the second half.  Hathaway played the full match and closed with five saves. 

Lewis took a team-high four shots, Edwards followed with two shots while Shelbi Vienna-Hallam and Sabina Claesson each had one shot. 
 
Alabama State continues its' road trip with a conference match at Texas Southern on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT).