Soccer Falls Short at Home to Southern (La.)

LORMAN, Miss. – A 73rd-minute goal from Emily Serrato halved the deficit, but it wasn't enough on Sunday afternoon as Alcorn fell at home to visiting Southern (La.) by a score of 2-1 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) women's soccer action at Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium.
 
After falling behind on a pair of second half goals in fairly quick succession, Alcorn (2-7-1, 0-2-0 SWAC) had numerous opportunities to get back into the game throughout the final 33 minutes of the contest.
 
Freshman Zea Anderson had one of her best looks of the game in the 72nd minute, as she let a shot fly from distance. However, the shot was collected by Southern (5-7-1, 2-2-0 SWAC) goalkeeper Sydney Bellamy.
 
Moments later, Serrato, a junior from Porter, Texas, scored her first goal of the season directly off a corner kick, slotting the ball into the bottom far-side corner of the Jags net. That allowed the Purple and Gold to pull within 2-1 in the 73rd minute.
 
Down the stretch, Alcorn had a breakaway getting behind the Jaguars defense with less than three minutes remaining on the clock, but sophomore forward Charlie Bal was narrowly beaten to the ball by Southern keeper Bellamy as the ball found its way into the box.
 
It would be the Jaguars with the final three shots of the game, as Alcorn starting goalkeeper Paula Argelaguet pulled in a final shot on target for the day from Southern's Victoria Thomas.
 
With the game goalless at the break, it was the visiting Jaguars getting on the board first courtesy a 58th-minute left footed shot into the near corner from tap-in range by forward Lonnie Mulligan. The assist came from Southern's Kirstyn Hale, registering her team-high 10th of the 2022 campaign.
 
The goal was the first of the season for Mulligan, but it would not be her last.
 
Khari Price sent a ball through to Mulligan in the 66th minute, where the Southern forward recorded her second half brace with another close-range effort tapped in calmly just to the keeper's right.
 
Alcorn used the goal from Serrato in her only shot of the game off the direct corner kick, while redshirt sophomore midfielder Mikayla Duncan provided the Braves with a pair of chances, including one on-target. Anderson had a shot on goal in the game, while teammate Yaisa Reyes' headed effort at goal in the second half fell into the arms of Bellamy.
 
Southern was led by the brace from Mulligan on seven shots (four falling on target), as well as a pair of shots from Alayla Jackson and Price, respectively.
 
Both keepers went the distance between the sticks for their respective teams, as it was the Jags' Bellamy earning the win. She collected three saves altogether during the contest. Meanwhile, the loss went to Alcorn junior Argelaguet in net, as the Barcelona native saved six shots for the Braves throughout the course of the 90 minutes.
 
Alcorn next hosts Texas Southern to Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium for a pivotal SWAC matchup on Friday, Oct. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
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