JACKSON, Miss. - The Alcorn State University women's soccer team heads to Jackson, Miss. as the Lady Braves play at Jackson State (1-10-1, 1-2-1 SWAC) in a 3 p.m. conference match Friday afternoon. The team then travels to Baton Rouge, La. on Sunday for a 1 p.m. conference match at Southern (0-8-1, 0-3-1 SWAC).
"We are taking care of what little injuries we have and are preparing for this weekend," said head coach Junior Noel. "We're going to continue to be who we are and I believe this weekend is going to help us take a huge step towards the conference tournament come the first week of November."
Senior Alexandra Salvador has five points to lead Alcorn with two goals and an assist, followed by redshirt-sophomore Rita Okoro with a pair of goals. Freshman keeper Kameran Proby is 2-3 this season with 25 saves against eight goals allowed.
"The girls have made tremendous steps," added Noel. "We are very competitive and work hard for each other. In our last performance on the road against Howard, it kept us involved in the game until the end. I can only give kudos to the girls for wanting to make the change, that sacrifice for the greater good. Chantelle Arambulo and Jaydah Myers have been very steady. Those are two freshman that have been key players in our defense and they performed tremendously well on the road in Birmingham. Kameran continues to grow and the girls are growing in confidence with her as well. The girls feel very confident with her back there and they can express themselves more on the field because they know that she has their back."
Jackson State | Oct. 6 | 3 p.m.
The Lady Tigers are coming of a 3-1 loss at Arkanas-Pine Bluff on Sunday. Jalah Carter found the back of the net for JSU's lone goal. Carter, Jessica Blair, and Ariel Vinson each have two goals to pace the Lady Tigers on offense. In goal, Faith Toennies is 1-7-1 with 90 saves and 34 goals allowed.
Friday's game marks the 22nd meeting with Jackson State, who owns a 21-0 mark in the series. The Lady Braves and Lady Tigers met on October 2 last season, with JSU earning a 4-2 decision at Jack Spinks-Casem Stadium. The visitors jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Okoro put Alcorn on the board early in the second half. Junior Yaira Guardado added a score in the 53rd minute and JSU tapped in a deflected shot off the cross bar for the final tally.
Southern | Oct. 8 | 1 p.m.
The Lady Jaguars fell 2-1 in a double-overtime loss at Grambling State last Sunday. Taylor Coleman netted the equalizer in the 80th minute, but Grambling's Florence David scored the game-winner off a rebound to grab the win for the Lady Tigers. Akosua Allen scored Southern's only other goal this season while goalie Kendra Lewis is 0-7-1 with 64 saves and 27 goals allowed.
Southern leads the all-time series 15-3-1. The teams played in Lorman last season on Sept. 30, with the Lady Braves earning a 4-2 victory. Guardado netted a pair of goals while Comfort Agyei and Okoro each contributed a score.
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