Lady Hornet booters fall late to Howard 2-1
VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. (bamastatesports.com) – Add another closely contested match to this blooming SWAC rivalry.
For the fourth time in as many all-time matches in the series, the Alabama State and Howard women’s soccer teams played a competitive style that resulted in a one-goal margin.
With the teams nearly even in all statistical categories, the shorthanded Lady Hornets dropped a tough 2-1 outcome to Howard at Sicard Hollow Park on Sunday afternoon in a SWAC match.
ASU was playing without conference top scorer Ariela Lewis, who missed her second consecutive match due to injury.
The Lady Hornets (2-9 overall, 1-2 SWAC) and Lady Bison (6-3-2 overall, 3-0-1 SWAC) had played to a scoreless tie at halftime.
In the 58th minute, ASU senior forward Aaliyah Lewis broke through first, scoring on a shot into the right corner of the net after she was given a pretty touch pass from Inma Martinez, who was set up from Lexi Krieger’s cross on the near side of the field.
Aa. Lewis has scored four times in the series dating back to October 2014.
It was also her fourth goal of the season.
But, Howard had a quick answer.
Jasmin Miller picked up the equalizer in the 62nd minute when ASU goalkeeper Gianna Guyot rushed up out of goal.
Miller was able to beat her to the spot and found the left corner of the net for her first goal of the season.
Kela Gray scored the winner in the 75th minute on a breakaway goal.
Howard held a slim 13-11 advantage in shots and 8-7 for shots on goals with each team recording six saves.
The Lady Hornets attempted a late push to knot the score, but shots by Martinez and Krieger both went wide inside the final 12 minutes of play.
