Courtesy of Alcorn State Athletics
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alcorn Soccer prepares for a pair of weekend games in “The Yellowhammer State” when the Braves travel to Alabama State for a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) match with the Hornets on Friday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. The game will take place at the ASU Soccer Complex.
THE GAME: Alcorn Braves (4-8-2, 2-3-1 SWAC) at Alabama State Hornets (4-7-3, 2-2-2 SWAC)
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. CT
WHERE: ASU Soccer Complex (Montgomery, Ala.)
IN THE RANKINGS
Alcorn is not ranked in this week’s United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. Alabama State is not ranked in this week’s United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Keep up with everything Alcorn Soccer this year by following the Braves on all their social media platforms. You can follow @AlcornWomensSoccer on Instagram and @AlcornSoccer on Twitter.
SERIES VS. ALABAMA STATE
Alabama State leads the all-time series against Alcorn with 14 wins against just five losses. The Braves have dropped the previous 12 meetings in the series. This includes a 6-1 setback against the Hornets in the opening round of the SWAC Championships in the spring of 2021, during the COVID rearranged campaign from the fall of 2020. The last time Alcorn defeated Alabama State was 2011, courtesy a 1-0 win at home under former head coach Christie Chambers.
PREVIOUSLY AGAINST ALABAMA STATE
Alcorn was on the short end of a 2-1 decision against Alabama State on Sept. 24, 2021, at Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium in Lorman, Mississippi. The Braves took an early lead following a goal from Mikayla Duncan in the 21st minute. However, the goal was nullified courtesy McKenna Wiscombe’s 36th-minute strike to even the score at 1-1. A 76th-minute match-winner from Camila Jimenez allowed the visiting Hornets to take the win. The Hornets had 11 shots as opposed to the Braves nine shots.
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BRAVES
Second half goals for both teams from the penalty spot was enough to see Alcorn and Grambling State play to a 1-1 draw in Southwestern Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer action at the GSU Soccer Complex. This was the second time the two teams have met this season, as Grambling collected a 2-1 win in a nonconference matchup back on August 21, at Sports Force Parks in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Alcorn looked the more dominant team in the opening 45 minutes. Emily Serrato and Jaidyn Matheu each forced Grambling goalkeeper Madison Covey-Taylor into action with both shots coming off Alcorn corner kicks in the 20th minute. However, it would be Grambling State supplying the game’s first clear shot at goal in the 10th minute when Imogen Fowler fired a shot on-target before it was beaten away courtesy Alcorn starting goalkeeper Paula Argelaguet. Neither team really threatened the rest of the first half, despite ambitious shots falling off target from Fowler, along with Beatriz Kretteis and Karlyn Judge for the host Tigers. With the game scoreless at halftime, the second half started feverishly. Grambling defender Tanzanea Villacis was shown a yellow card after a reckless challenge inside the box, forcing the match referee to point to the penalty spot. It would be Serrato stepping up to convert the penalty and give the visiting Braves a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute. But an 84th-minute penalty awarded to the hosts allowed the Tigers a way back into the game. It was Fowler converting from the penalty spot and leveling the game at 1-1. Grambling appeared the likelier to get the win in the dying stages as Kretteis’ shot off a Tigers corner kick was high over the bar in the 85th minute. Serrato finished the game with two shots (both on-target), including her penalty kick conversion. Matheu and freshman Samara Nunn each tallied shots on goal as well for the Purple and Gold. Argelaguet made one save in goal across her 90 minutes of play. Grambling used the services of Fowler with three shots (two on-target including her penalty kick goal). Covey-Taylor made three stops for the Tigers in goal.
UNBEATEN STREAK
Alcorn is currently riding a three-match inbeaten streak, including a pair of wins and a draw. The Braves took a win from Prairie View A&M on October 9, followed by another victory at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on October 14. While the winning run ended with a 1-1 draw at Grambling State on October 16, the Braves continued their unbeaten streak. The school record for game sunbeaten is four, when the Braves registered three wins and a draw during the middle stages of the 2011 campaign.
THE ROAD, YOU SAY?
Prior to Alcorn’s 2-1 win over East Texas Baptist (Sept. 4) on the road in Marshall, Texas, the Purple and Gold had never notched a win over an NCAA team in an official away match in school history. Following the win away to Centenary (La.) on Sept. 21, the Braves now have a pair of wins on the road in the same season against NCAA-affiliated institutions for the first time in school history.
ABOUT JACK SPINKS – MARINO CASEM STADIUM
Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium is a 22,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Lorman, Mississippi, which is the home field of the Alcorn State University Braves football team, as well as the women’s soccer team. The stadium is surrounded by the campus of Alcorn State University and is adjacent to the Davey Whitney Complex. Opened in 1992, Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium replaced Henderson Stadium. Its name is derived from former Alcorn State Braves football player Jack Spinks. The name was changed to the Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Memorial Stadium in 2011, after then Alcorn State President M. Christopher Brown II stated, “Coach Casem helped Alcorn State University Athletics increase both in stature and in reputation to become a nationally recognized university”.
ALCORN PREDICTED TO FINISH 8TH IN SWAC
Alcorn Soccer was predicted to finish eighth in the 2022 SWAC Predicted Order of Finish, released by the league office Friday, Aug. 12, from the conference headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama.
UP NEXT
Alcorn will have less than 48 hours to prepare for Alabama A&M, when the Braves travel to Huntsville on Sunday, Oct. 23, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
