LORMAN, Miss. - The Alcorn State University soccer program kept within striking range for most of Friday's affair, but the defending SWAC champion Howard ended on top of a 4-1 result in the conference opener at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.

The Lady Braves (0-3, 0-1 SWAC) trailed 2-0 in the first half when senior Viktoriya Mihaylova cut the deficit in the 33rd minute. The play came off a free kick from about 25 yards out when senior Comfort Agyei aimed for the far post from the right side. The ball landed at Mihaylova's feet as she got past a defender and slipped one past the keeper.

It marked the first goal of the season for the Sofia, Bulgaria native. Mihaylova accounted for three of Alcorn's six shots in the game.

Agyei also fired a pair of shots in the contest, while freshman Anjelica Dugan launched one from long-range that ended wide-right.

Howard (4-3-1, 1-0 SWAC) scored a pair of early goals by Hollie Cartwright and Sara Vaughan. It added one late in the first half in the 43rd minute by Kela Gray to take a 3-1 lead into the break.

The Lady Bison recorded their fourth tally in the 73rd minute on an on-goal after a misplay by an Alcorn defender.

In net, freshman keeper Giselle Rojas made a career-high 10 saves for the Lady Braves. It more-than tripled her previous best of three. For Howard, Mackenzie Diotte and Gabrielle Emilien each played 45 minutes and Emilien made one save.

The three-goal defeat is a large improvement from last season when Howard registered an eight-goal win over the Lady Braves.

Alcorn will have a full week to prepare before its next game when it hosts Southern at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.

#FearTheBrave