MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Two-time defending SWAC champion Alabama State opens the 2018 season Friday when they travel to face North Alabama in the first of two matches this weekend.
 
The Lady Hornets, seeking their first season-opening win in school history, returns 14 players from last season's 12-8-1 team. Alabama State brings back forwards Teaggan Ilela and Kayla Tillman; midfielders Shyann Cordova and McKenna Lupori; defenders Mercedes Padilla, Shelby Unruh and Alanna Manning; and goalkeeper Gianna Guyot.
 
It all starts in the net for the Lady Hornets as Guyot, the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year in the SWAC, will get the nod in the season opener. Guyot was also the 2017 SWAC Goalkeeper of the Year as she registered a 1.87 goals against average and went 9-8-0 in goal with five shutouts.
 
With Guyot in the net and Padilla on the backline, Alabama State will look to get its offense going through Ilela, Cordova and Tillman. The trio combined for seven goals, 14 assists and 28 points last season.

North Alabama went 13-4-2 last season and added 11 new players this season. As they transition from Division II to the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) conference, the Lady Lions are predicted to finish seventh in their new league. UNA is led by Kylie Huey and Shelby Wall, as the duo combined for 28 goals, 10 assists and 66 points last season.
 
Meanwhile, Gardner-Webb will have one game under its belt when Alabama State visits on Sunday as the Lady Bulldogs travel to Greensboro, NC on Friday for their season-opening match against UNC Greensboro.
 
The Lady Bulldogs will look to bounce back after a 4-12-3 record in 2017. They return leading scorer Samuelle Grove and goalkeeper Keely Brown. Grove paced Gardner-Webb's offense with four goals, three assists and 11 points, while Brown finished with 109 saves and a 1.49 goals against average.
 
Kick off against UNA is set for 7 pm at the Bill Jones Athletic Complex and the game can be seen live here. On Sunday, the Lady Hornets and the Lady Bulldogs will take the field at 1 pm at Greene-Harbison Stadium.
 
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