Lady Hornet booters conclude regular season at home
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (bamastatesports.com) – The finish line is in sight as the Alabama State women’s soccer team closes out the regular season with three consecutive home matches.
The first of which will be Friday at 7 p.m. when the Lady Hornets entertain Mississippi Valley State (3-7-2 overall, 3-2-2 SWAC) at 7 p.m.
The home stand continues this weekend with Alcorn State (1-8 overall, 1-6 SWAC) visiting the Hornets’ nest on Sunday at 1 p.m. and concludes with Senior Day next Thursday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. against Alabama A&M (2-13 overall, 1-5 SWAC).
Currently, Alabama State (5-9-1 overall, 4-2-1 SWAC) sits in fourth place in the conference standings and within reach of moving up in the SWAC Tournament seeding.
The Lady Hornets are one game behind both Texas Southern (5-1-1 SWAC) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (5-1-1 SWAC).
ASU would hold the tie-breaker over UAPB, but not TSU because of earlier head-to-head meetings this season.
But if that scenario were to play out, the Lady Hornets will have to take care of business this weekend.
On Friday, they’ll have to avenge last season’s 5-1 defeat to Valley in Itta Bena.
“They’re [Valley] always very athletic,” said ASU head coach Jodie Smith.
“They have a dynamic front player who can run. They really took it to us last year. But I like where we’re at right now especially defensively. We are starting to find a rhythm up front. I think we’re going to be able to create some chances. Any time you can play at home on our field, I like that advantage.”
MVSU had surrendered just 24 goals on the season, the second fewest in the SWAC.
Rita Gyasi leads the SWAC with 92 saves and holds a 1.82 goals against average (second best in the SWAC).
On Sunday, the Lady Hornets will turn its attention to Alcorn State, who enters the week with a five-game losing streak.
ASU also defeated them 9-0 last season in Lorman, Mississippi.
But coach Smith warns that the Lady Braves can’t be taken lightly.
“For me, it’s complacency,” Smith said.
“Players always look ahead. You tell them not to and you want them to try to play one game at a one. They know what’s lurking on the horizon. Do we take an opponent for granted? As soon as we do those things, you pay a price. It’s going to be up to the coaching staff to keep the team on an even keel. It’s the second game of the weekend-[so we won’t have our legs fresh after a battle on Friday night and we’re going to have to come out and play 90 minutes again and not lose concentration.”
Players to watch
The Devilettes’ Laadi Issaka is likely to be a player that the Lady Hornets will have to keep an eye on.
The junior from Ghana has taken the third most shots per game in the SWAC (3.17 per contest) and is ranked tied for fifth in the conference in points per game (1.33 per contest) with seven goals and two assists.
Nobody has taken more shots in the conference than the Lady Braves’ Rita Okoro (47 shots).
The redshirt freshman from Nigeria also ranks tied for fifth in points per game (1.33 per contest) with five goals and two assists in nine games played.
Who’s hot
Reigning SWAC Offensive Player of the Week Inma Martinez has steadily climbed the SWAC individual scoring rankings as the junior now stands tied for fourth in the SWAC in points (18) with six goals and six assists on the season.
The Madrid, Spain native is also up as a nominee for the Hero Sports Division 1 women’s soccer Hero of the Week.
Voting will decide the winner. Polls close Friday at 10 p.m. PT.
