SWAC Soccer Teams Kick Off 2012 Season
SWAC.org
The 2012 SWAC soccer season got underway on Friday with seven games on the schedule. Though there were some close calls, the SWAC is seeking its first win.
The season continues on Sunday with five more matches.
Alcorn State hosts South Alabama, while Alabama A&M visits Kennesaw State, Jackson State is at home against Stephen F. Austin, Alabama State makes the trip across town in Montgomery to face Huntingdon and Arkansas-Pine Bluff is on the road at Arkansas State.
Central Baptist 3, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 0
Pine Bluff, AR- Arkansas-Pine Bluff began defense of their 2011 SWAC conference title under first year head coach Rohan Naraine, hosting the Central Baptist Lady Mustangs. For Naraine, just being able to compete was a nice welcome back to the sidelines. Naraine suffered a serious illness just as he accepted the role as coach for the Lady Lions. Not to mention the transferring of several players for last year's championship squad.
The Lady Lions fought hard but just could not match the scoring output by Central. The Lady Mustangs took an early lead on a goal by Ashley English in the 43rd minute, just before half time. The Lady Mustangs added two more goals in the second half in the 55th and 89th minutes of the contest for a 3-0 final.
Sam Houston State 1, Prairie View 0
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Prairie View A&M sophomore keeper Bianca Garza played as close to perfect as she could get for the Lady Panthers in a loss to Sam Houston State.
Sam Houston State scored in the 80th minute on a goal by Bearkats freshman Ashley Alonzo. The goal was controversial as Alonzo's shot was deflected by Garza off the bottom of the cross bar. The ball then bounced towards the goal line and appeared to be cleared by Lady Panthers midfielder Navyd Diaz before it completely crossed the line. However, after a moment of hesitation by the referee, it was scored a goal.
With 50 seconds left in the match, senior midfielder Katherine Sheppard took a shot to tie the game, but it was stopped by Bearkats keeper Michele McCullough. The Lady Panthers then sprung a fast break as time expired, but junior midfielder Angie Guillory couldn't get the shot off in time.
Garza finished the game with seven saves off of eight shots on goal by Sam Houston State.
Lipscomb 2, Jackson State 0
Nashville, Tenn. - Jackson State, led by first-year head coach Dean Joseph, lost its season opener to Lipscomb at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex. The Lady Tigers recorded three shots and one shot on goal in the loss. Lipscomb attempted 17 shots and 10 shots on goal.
Chelsea Morton attempted two shots and Shatiaunna Banks had one shot attempt. Taylor Emerson finished with a game-high eight saves for Jackson State.
Lipscomb scored at 33:58 on a Baylee Linnell goal to make it 1-0. The second goal came in the 58th minute of the second half on a goal by Molly Bray.
McNeese State 2, Texas Southern 1
Houston - Texas Southern dropped a heartbreaker in its opener against McNeese State.
All of the scoring came in the first half. Brennan Moss scored the first goal for McNeese in the 22nd minute. TSU tied the game in the 27th minute on a goal by Gabriella Perales. However, McNeese took the lead for good with a goal in the 31st minute.
South Carolina State 8, Alabama A&M 0
ATLANTA – The Alabama A&M Lady Bulldogs could not find an answer today versus South Carolina State University as they allowed two goals in the first half and six in the second.
Starting goalkeeper Linda Aboagye posted four saves in goal, while freshman Marissa Oehler recorded three in the second half. A&M’s Hernedez Haughton had two shots with one on goal. The Bulldogs had five shots as a team.
Troy 5, Alabama State 3
TROY – The Lady Hornets scored two goals in the early minutes of the match against Troy, but couldn't hold on.
Freshman forward Anastasia McCleary scored in fifth minute of the match off an assist from Lenna Lamas. Sophomore transfer India Pleasant added an unassisted goal off a turnover breakaway in the tenth minute of the game for ASU.
The Trojans added a goal from the top of the box in the 43rd minute of the match, making the score 2-1 at the half. In the second half, Troy took the lead scoring four goals in the 53rd, 54th, 57th, and 65th minutes of the game.
Alabama State scored its third goal of the game, as McCleary knocked in her second goal in the 82nd minute of the match. McCleary scored the two goals in the first collegiate game of her career.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kylee Hathaway had 12 saves in the match. The Trojans were able to take advantage of a tiring Lady Hornets defense and outshot ASU 35-9.
Central Arkansas 10, Alcorn State 0
Alcorn State, Miss. - Alcorn State couldn't stop the offensive wave as Central Arkansas posted five goals in the first and five more in the second en route to the win.
UCA outshot the Braves 40-3, keeping ASU keeper Ashley Murray busy all day. She had 18 saves in the game.