HOUSTON, Texas – The Alabama State University women's soccer team faced Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) foe Texas Southern on Sunday afternoon, with the Tigers pulling off a 3-1 victory at Alexander Durley Stadium.
The Lady Hornets (1-10-2, 1-3-1 SWAC) had one of its best days on offense of the season, attempting double-digit shots for the third time while putting half of its tries on target. The defensive end, however, couldn't stop Savannah Muldrew, who scored three unassisted goals for the Tigers (4-9-2, 3-1-1 SWAC) as it won its fifth straight against ASU and took another step forward as it looks to secure a spot in the SWAC Championship Tournament.
The ASU defense faced immediate pressure, with an on-target attempt in the first five minutes sailing right and two more shots missing the goal in the following ten minutes. The fourth shot, a rebound from the off-target try seconds earlier, got past the keeper and gave TSU the advantage. The Hornets got immediate pressure in a pair of shots shortly thereafter, but it wasn't long before the Tigers scored again, making it 2-0 by the 30th minute.
The defenses locked down for the remainder of the half, as a pair of on-target shots from Alabama State were the only threats before the midway break.
Both teams had come out with their own plans to attack, as a Tiger goal was scored 23 seconds into the period, and a feed from
Adriana Gallucci to rookie midfielder
Lucca Porter cut into its opponent's lead.
Neither team landed one of its many shots for the remainder of the period, as the Tigers were rotating through players until the final horn, while ASU put just one of its final four attempts on frame in the remaining 38 minutes of action.
Gallucci,
Kiana Lopez Wilson and
Neysa Misita all attempted a pair of shots on the day, while Porter, Gallucci, Lopez Wilson,
Queenster Mensah and
Tielua Baptista all put one try on target.
TSU outshot the Hornets, 16-to-10, and attempted seven corner kicks to Alabama State's one. The visitors did, however, outperform the Tigers in shots on goal, 5-4, as it succeeded at applying pressure on the offensive side of the ball.
Each team used a pair of goalkeepers, as TSU starting keeper Alessandra Bastidas played the first 45 minutes and saved a trio of goals to secure the win. Backup keeper Alicia Audu allowed Porter's strike to get by, although she made a save in the second half. ASU's
Deetya Satyal got the start and played the entire first half and part of the second half, letting the three goals get by before making way for rookie
Slater Copeland, who had a save in 38 minutes of action.
The Lady Hornets are set to celebrate four seniors on Senior Day at the ASU Soccer Complex this Thursday, Oct. 22, when it welcomes the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions to Montgomery for a 6 p.m. contest. It wraps up the week with a road battle against the Southern Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 25, with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
