MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State University women's soccer team, the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champions, open the 2017 season on Friday as the Lady Hornets travel to Oxford, Miss. to take on Ole Miss and will visit Jacksonville State on Sunday.
Alabama State, seeking its first season-opening win in school history, returns a wealth of talent off last season's 11-10-1 team. The Lady Hornets bring back forwards
Ariela Lewis and
Lexi Krieger, midfielders
Inma Martinez and
Meaghan Fielding, defenders
Alanna Manning and
Mercedes Padilla and goalkeepers
Gianna Guyot and
Zaria Maynard.
It all starts in the net for the Lady Hornets as Guyot, an All-SWAC Preseason Second-Team selection, will get the nod in the season opener. Guyot, who was a three-time SWAC Goalkeeper of the Week selection, registered a 1.93 goals against average last season and went 11-7-1 in goal with a pair of shutouts.
With Guyot in the net, the Lady Hornets will look to get their offense going and that will go through veterans Lewis and Krieger. The duo combined for 25 goals, 11 assists and a total of 61 of the teams 168 points last season. Lewis, who is the SWAC Preseason Co-Player of the Year, has led the Lady Hornets in goals and points the past two seasons.
Ole Miss, which went 9-11-0 last season, returns 10 starters from a year ago and will look to replace leading scorer, Addie Forbus, who finished with 20 points and eight goals. CeCe Kizer, who was second on the team in goals (5), first in assists (six) and second in points (16) return to bolster the offensive attack for the Rebels.
Marine Merritt returns in the back of the net after playing in all 20 games last season. She finished with a 1.71 goals against average and 70 saves.
Jacksonville State will have one game under its belt when Alabama State visits on Sunday as the Gamecocks travel to Tuscaloosa (Ala.) on Friday to face Alabama.
The Gamecocks will look to bounce back after a 5-13-1 season a year ago and return leading scorer Cheyenne Carden and goalkeeper Caroline Robinson.
Carden paced Jacksonville State's offense with a team-high seven points (three goals and one assist). Robinson finished with 81 saves and a 1.36 goals against average.
Kick off against the Rebels is set for 7 p.m. at the Ole Miss Soccer Complex and the game can be seen live on the SEC Network+. On Sunday, the Lady Hornets and the Gamecocks will take the field at 1 p.m. at the JSU Soccer Complex.
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