HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Junior forward Ariela Lewis stayed red hot, the defensive back line held up and the Alabama State women's soccer team defeated Prairie View A&M 3-0 in a SWAC Tournament Semifinal on Friday afternoon at the John Hunt Soccer Complex to advance to the SWAC Championship match for the second time in three seasons. 
 
The third-seeded Lady Hornets (9-10-1) will face No. 4 Howard (13-7-1), who topped top-seeded Mississippi Valley State 4-3 in PKs in the other Semifinal.
 
The SWAC Championship will be held Sunday at 11 a.m. 
 
Viewers can catch the match streamed online at http://www.swac.org/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27400.
 
Alabama State exorcised some demons as the Lady Hornets were able to eliminate Prairie View, the team that had done the same to them just one season earlier. 
 
ASU last reached the title game in 2013 when it lost to Jackson State.  
 
The Lady Hornets will be seeking its first championship in program history since SWAC soccer began in 2003. 
 
The Lady Hornets got on the board early and set the tone when Ar. Lewis sprinted ahead of the pack and drew Lady Panthers' goalkeeper Dominique Dillon away from the goal. 
 
Ar. Lewis took advantage and she beat her with a shot that nestled into the right corner of the net.
 
"We're doing a good job of finding feet," said ASU head coach Jodie Smith. 
 
"We've been able to combine the ball and when we keep the ball, we can do some really nice things."
 
It remained a 1-0 ASU lead into halftime with noticeable edge in possession time for the Lady Hornets.
 
Prairie View (9-9-1) threatened several times in the early part of the second half, but was stuffed on five shots on goal. 
 
Play remained physical and chippy as four yellow cards were given in the match.
 
Then, Ar. Lewis gave ASU a huge insurance goal when she dribbled inside the box and pelted the ball off the left post and into the net to make it a 2-0 lead in the 77^th minute.
 
In the 88^th minute, Ar. Lewis completed the hat trick on a pretty pass from Aaliyah Lewis, who found her sister near the top of the circle.
 
Ar. Lewis buried the shot from about 20 yards out to push the lead to 3-0.
 
Of the 13 total tournament goals scored thus far, Ar. Lewis has five to her name and a team-leading 13 goals for the season.
 
"She's [Ar. Lewis] very focused and the team has done a nice job in finding her," Smith said.
 
"When she was able to connect on that second goal, it gave us some breathing room.  When they [Prairie View] fell behind 1-0, they were still in it and could play a little more conservative.  But that second one caused them to chase the game.  When they pushed the numbers forward, we were able to get another one on the counterattack." 
 
Freshman goalkeeper Gianna Guyot got the job done once again, finishing with five saves to earn another clean sheet for her seventh shutout of the season. 
 
Aa. Lewis and Emily Fleming each picked up an assist each as ASU doubled up Prairie View on shots with an 18-9 shots advantage including 8-5 in shots on goal opportunities. 
 
Alabama State defeated Howard 1-0 in Montgomery back on Sept. 25 when Aaliyah Lewis scored the winner. 
 
"I'm definitely expecting another physical battle," Smith said.
 
"Howard attacks with speed and we will have to be very conscious about that.  We'll need to be disciplined and finish our chances.  Most likely, it will be a low-scoring game."    
 
                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        #GOHORNETS#