Lady Hornets prep for Howard in newfound rivalry
VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. (bamastatesports.com) – What a rivalry it has become.
In the relatively short span of two years, the Alabama State and Howard women’s soccer teams have gone from distant Division I soccer acquaintances to fierce rivals who have fought every inch in attempting to reach the same destination: the NCAA Tournament at season’s end.
While Howard has successfully come through to win the prior two SWAC Championships, Alabama State has closed the gap.
The teams have only faced off against one another three times, but all matches have been decided by a one-goal margin including last season’s 2015 SWAC Championship where the Lady Bison were able to pull out a 2-1 victory in Huntsville at the John Hunt Soccer Complex.
Just six weeks prior to that match, it was the Lady Hornets who came out victorious on the strength of an Aaliyah Lewis winner in a 1-0 nail biter back on ASU’s home grass in Montgomery.
And, two seasons ago, the teams met for the first time at the same site of Sunday’s rematch at Sicard Hollow Park in Vestavia Hills.
In that initial meeting, the Lady Hornets ran out to a 1-0 lead only to rally back to tie it at 2-2 before dropping a 3-2 heartbreaker in the 86th minute.
Now, Alabama State (2-8 overall, 1-1 SWAC) and Howard (4-3-2 overall, 1-0-1 SWAC) will meet once again in another key conference match Sunday at noon from Sicard Hollow Park in a potential playoff preview.
The game will be carried by the SWAC Digital Network on SWAC.org.
“We know what to expect from each other,” said ASU head coach Jodie Smith.
“We’re going to have to show up and work together. We’re going to have to be into the game from the opening whistle. Actually, we’re going to have to be into the game in warm ups and even before that on the bus. It [The championship game’s first goal in the opening minute] changed everything about the game. That’s something that we’ll talk about. A win [on Sunday] would keep us at the top of the group and that will determine where we’ll play in the tournament so it’s certainly important.”
Players to watch
Sophomore midfielder Anna Mitchell leads the Lady Bison with seven points (three goals, one assist).
Mitchell has two game-winning goals on the season with one in the 73rd minute against Cleveland State University on August 19 and one in the 15th minute against Virginia Military Institute on September 18.
Mitchell has had success against ASU as well where she scored in the opening minute of last season’s championship match on a chip shot that floated over the goalkeeper’s head.
Who’s hot
Lady Hornets’ sophomore goalkeeper Gianna Guyot has lowered her goals against average by more than half a goal over her past two matches from 2.99 to 2.42 goals per match.
Guyot also saved 13 of 15 shots over the two SWAC road matches last weekend at Prairie View A&M and at Texas Southern.
Guyot currently ranks third in the SWAC in saves (49), seventh in saves per match (6.12) and is ranked second in save percentage (.742).
Racking up the points
Alabama State holds four of the top individual slots among the SWAC’s leading scorers.
Among them are Ariela Lewis (14 points), Aa. Lewis (10 points), and Inma Martinez and Lexi Krieger (seven points apiece).
They are ranked first, fourth and tied for sixth, respectively.
Offensive power
As of matches through September 30, Alabama State ranks first in the conference in goals (18), goals per match (1.80), assists (10), assists per match (1.00), points (46), and shots (104).
