PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas | Alabama State opens defense of its Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship Thursday morning as the top seed in this year's tournament, and will face eighth-seeded Alcorn State.
 
The match is the first of four opening round matches, beginning at 10 am, at the Prairie View A&M Soccer Complex. The championship runs from November 2 through the championship game on November 5. The winner of the championship earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Championship Tournament.
 
The Lady Hornets are led by senior Ariela Lewis, the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, who is the nation's active leader in goals and points scored. She added to her total goal amount this season with 12, including four in one match. Mercedes Padilla – the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year – and Gianna Guyot – the SWAC Goalkeeper of the Year – will look to lead a defensive squad that recorded a 0.70 goals against average in conference play.
 
Inma Martinez – a first team selection – and Lexi Krieger – a second team selection – will provide balance for the Lady Hornets heading into the tournament. Krieger was second on the team in goals, first in assists and tied for the team lead in points; while Martinez was third on the team in goals from her midfield position.
 
Alabama State and Alcorn State met earlier this season with the Lady Hornets walking away with a hard-fought 2-1 victory after neither team scored for the first 83 minutes of the game. Lewis scored a pair of goals after the Lady Hornets were down with just six minutes remaining in the match to secure the victory.
 
The winner of the match will face either fourth-seeded Prairie View A&M or fifth-seeded Texas Southern on Friday at 3 pm.
 
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