SWAC Soccer Races Still Wide Open
With less than two weeks left in the regular season, all 10 teams are still alive for the postseason. Mere points seperate the top from the bottom of each division.
In the east, Mississippi Valley State holds a slim lead with a 2-0 record. Their four points has them just ahead of Alcorn State (1-0-1) and Jackson State (1-0-1) who have three points apiece. Although winless, both Alabama A&M (0-2-1) and Alabama State (0-2-1) are on the board by virtue of a tie.
The Lady Bulldogs and Lady Hornets clash on Friday afternoon in Huntsville. The winner will not only lock up a spot in the SWAC tournament, but will end the hopes of the losing team. If the game ends in a tie, it will come down to a tiebreaker which could result in a coin flip. However, if Alcorn State beats Jackson State on Friday, the Lady Braves would move into second place and Alabama A&M will hold the advantage in the tiebreaker by virtue of the Lady Bulldogs tie versus the Lady Braves. If Jackson State wins and the A&M/State game ends in a tie, ASU will hold the tiebreaker.
The West Division is even more cluttered. Texas Southern (1-0-1) is on top but by only the slimmest margins with three points. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-0), the hottest team in the league of late is lurking in the No. 2 spot with two points, tied with Southern (1-1). Prairie View (0-1-1) has a tie against Texas Southern, giving them one point, while Grambling (0-1) is still breathing, but needs a win to stay in the race.
Individually, its been all UAPB as Silvia Fuentes and Nicole Parks-Powell are 1-and-2 in most offense categories. Fuentes leads the SWAC in points (35), points-per-game (2.69), goals (9) and assists (17). Parks-Powell is second in points (18), points per game (1.29) and goals (8).
Upcoming games:
Friday 10/21
Alcorn State at Jackson State, 1 p.m.
Alabama State at Alabama A&M, 3 p.m.
Mississippi Valley State at Southern, 4 p.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Prairie View, 7 p.m.
Grambling State at Texas Southern, 7 p.m.
Saturday, 10/23
Alcorn State at Southern, 1 p.m.
Grambling State at Prairie View, 1 p.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Texas Southern, 1 p.m.
Mississippi Valley State at Jackson State, 3 p.m.
