HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Alabama State women's soccer team picked up big-time play from sisters Ariela Lewis and Aaliyah Lewis and the Lady Hornets surged past Texas Southern 3-0 behind a monster second half in a SWAC Tournament Quarterfinal on Thursday afternoon at the John Hunt Soccer Complex.
 
The third-seeded Lady Hornets (8-10-1) will face No. 7 Prairie View A&M in the semifinals of the tournament on Friday at the new time of 1 p.m.
 
Due to the threat of rain, the time has moved up from the originally scheduled 5:30 p.m. start. 
 
It was a gratifying victory for Alabama State, who had lost to Texas Southern 6-1 just 13 days earlier on their home field and saw a rash of injuries to its team that caused four starters to depart the match.
 
"I feel for Texas Southern's coaching staff, who I all know very well," said ASU head coach Jodie Smith.
 
"There's Kathryn [Saunders], my former assistant, and my two former players [Jordan Creel and Kylee Hathaway on their coaching staff], but they had got the better of us the last two times that we played against them. We knew what to expect and the girls played well.   It's very hard to beat a team twice in one season."    
 
The opening half of Thursday's postseason match appeared to be headed in a similar direction as TSU held a 13-3 shots advantage including 7-3 in shots on goal opportunities. 
 
The pace and possession had favored the Lady Tigers (8-11) as well, but ASU held it together on the defensive end by turning away shots and being pesky with their back line. 
 
Despite TSU's first half edge, neither team was able to score in the opening half. 
 
The second half told a different story as the Lady Hornets came out aggressive with a sense of urgency.
 
Focused and unrelenting, ASU challenged and pushed the tempo.
 
They broke through when Ariela Lewis scored the first two goals of the game. 
 
In the 51^st minute, Ar. Lewis beat the defender on the left side on a through ball and deflected a shot off the defender's head and over the goalkeeper.
 
Her second goal was struck from inside the box on the far side of the field in the 66^th minute.
 
Aa. Lewis joined her on the scoring slate when the junior forward launched one from about 20 yards straightaway with her shot nestling into the left side corner of the net.
 
The Lady Hornets closed the margin for shot opportunities in the second half, but were able to get much better looks on net.
 
TSU held a slim 11-9 shots advantage including 7-6 for shots on goals in the half.   
 
Guyot finished with a career-high 14 saves.
 
It was her sixth shutout of the season and fifth time that she has recorded double-digit saves in a match. 
 
"She came up big for us," said ASU head coach Jodie Smith.
 
"One or two little areas concerned me in the first half, but she stayed composed.  In the second half, we made two or three key saves that we needed to have. She had been out with some injuries. It was a game-time decision with her on whether or not she would play.  In warm ups, [assistant coach] Andrew [Cairns] came up and told me that he felt that she's the one.  He's my goalkeepers coach and I go to him for those decisions." 
                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        #GOHORNETS#