MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State University women's soccer team fell to the Grambling State Tigers, 2-0, in a battle of teams looking to get things going in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play on Monday afternoon at the ASU Soccer Complex.
The Hornets (1-9-2, 1-2-1 SWAC) sought to build off of a big, 1-0 victory from a Thursday meeting at Prairie View A&M, and while it had some chances when the score was still even, the postponed game from Sunday saw the Tigers (2-8-3, 1-1-2 SWAC) convert on early, back-to-back shots and control momentum for the remainder of the match as it collected its first conference win.
While there were some good midfield battles between the two teams, GSU had three shots within the first 12 minutes, two of them on target and saved. However, its next two attempts – both on target and either scored or assisted by Nyla Dore-Anderson – came before the 20-minute mark of the game, and despite offensive pressure from both teams in the remaining 70 minutes, those goals rounded out the scoring.
The Tigers outshot the Hornets, 3-2, in the remaining 25 minutes of the first half, while it had an 11-5 advantage on shots in the second half and a 10-2 edge in shots on goal on the day. Of the four ASU strikers with a shot attempt on Monday,
Tyra Sterling and
Queenster Mensah each had two attempts and one on goal.
Deetya Satyal faced quite the tall task against the Tiger offensive front, making eight saves – four in each half – and battling against 19 total shots. Opposing keeper Alina Arneth made a pair of saves to secure the victory for Grambling State.
The Lady Hornets have an extended break before traveling back to Texas to face Texas Southern on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. at Alexander Durley Stadium. Alabama State hosts two more games at the ASU Soccer Complex this season: Thursday, Oct. 22 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff – the team's Senior Day – and Sunday, Nov. 1 against Jackson State.
