PINE BLUFF, Ark. – A goal from
Emily Serrato in the 78th minute was enough to see Alcorn Soccer collect a 2-1 road win on Friday evening, as the Braves won consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games for the first time since 2017, defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Pumphrey Soccer Complex.
Not since defeating Grambling (W, 2-0) and Southern (W, 3-2) towards the latter stages of the 2017 season have the Braves won consecutive league games. And for the Braves, it was their first win against UAPB since 2013, in a season where that victory would later be vacated by the NCAA.
With the game tied at 1-1, Alcorn (4-8-1, 2-3 0 SWAC) junior midfielder
Emily Serrato accepted a pass from freshman forward
Samara Nunn – the reigning SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week – and fired home a right-footed effort from the right edge of the box into the top-left corner for what would be the game-winning goal. For Serrato, an alum of New Caney High School, it was her second goal of the 2022 campaign, and her first since slotting home a direct goal off a corner kick against Southern (La.) at home on October 2. As for Nunn, the assist was her team-leading fifth of the year.
Alcorn moved in front early-on in the contest when sophomore forward
Yaisa Reyes netted her second goal of the season (her first since Centenary on September 21) with a shot from 24 feet that lofted high into the right corner of the goal just five minutes into the contest.
The fifth-minute goal for the Braves was the fastest of its kind in a regular season match since a goal in the 15th minute by
Charlie Bal last season at home to Nicholls State.
Alcorn led 1-0 at the half.
In the second half, the homestanding Golden Lions of UAPB (8-9-1, 3-3-1 SWAC) turned up the intensity with seemingly continuous shots in the Alcorn defensive third. In all, the Golden Lions amassed eight shots in the second 45 minutes of play, including four on target.
UAPB eventually got back into the game to even things at 1-1 in the 51st minute when Tiana Johnson placed a shot high to the right of Alcorn goalkeeper
Paula Argelaguet, off an assist by Natalie Freeman.
In all, Alcorn tallied seven shots in the game, with three of those on target (including the two goals). Arkansas-Pine Bluff countered with 17 shots as a team throughout the 90 minutes, as seven of those fell on target for the Golden Lions (including the second half goal by Johnson).
The win went to Argelaguet in goal for the Braves, giving her a third win of the year between the posts for the Purple and Gold. She made five saves on the night, three of those coming in the second half during a feverish UAPB rally attempt.
In return, the loss went to Makaila Riedel in goal for the Golden Lions. She made one save in the contest.
Alcorn's next game will be Sunday, Oct. 16, when the Braves travel to Grambling State for a SWAC contest scheduled to kick-off at 1 p.m. You can follow the action live by clicking here to
watch, or clicking
here for live stats throughout.
Follow Alcorn Soccer on Twitter (
@AlcornSoccer) for all the latest news and updates. For all Alcorn State Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (
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– #BeatUAPB –
