Match Report | Braves Keep Unbeaten Streak Alive

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Jaidyn Matheu's first half goal proved to be the match-winner Sunday afternoon, as Alcorn Soccer downed Alabama A&M by a 1-0 score line in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action at Bulldog Field.
 
After Emily Serrato's strike in the second minute was saved by Alabama A&M (4-10-2, 2-4-2 SWAC) goalkeeper Ma'Kayla Prince – followed by a Serrato corner kick a minute later, the visitors were certainly applying pressure early-on in the game.
 
Alcorn (5-8-3, 3-3-2 SWAC) found the breakthrough goal in the 11th minute when Jaidyn Matheu collected a pass from Samara Nunn to slot the ball past Prince into the lower-left corner. For Matheu, the goal was the second of the season for the Ajax, Ontario native. Meanwhile, the assist provided was the seventh of its kind for Nunn – allowing her to sit alone atop the SWAC statistics in that department.
 
"We were a very spirited team today," commented Head Coach Kevin Larry afterwards. "The ladies have made up their minds that they are going to play for each other, and it's evident with their efforts from start to finish."
 
Alcorn's Audrey Williams had a chance to double the visitors' lead in the 36th minute when she had a shot on-goal saved by Prince.
 
A host of Bulldogs corners were employed in the opening 45 minutes, but Braves goalkeeper Paula Argelaguet was never troubled in the opening half, facing zero (0) shots on target.
 
In the second half, Serrato once again made her presence felt early-on, whipping a shot in towards goal only to see Prince called into action for the save a mere two minutes into the half. Nunn followed with a shot on-target with a 51st-minute shot which was ultimately beaten away by Alabama A&M keeper Prince from her near-post.
 
It wasn't until the hour mark that Argelaguet was bothered in net for the first time in the game for the Purple and Gold, stopping a Makayla Rushing shot from inside the box.
 
In all, Argelaguet made three saves in keeping the clean sheet for the Braves on the day – all of which came in the final half-hour of play.
 
Prince saved five shots in her net, as Alcorn had six shots on-target total for the contest.
 
Redshirt senior midfielder D'Ana Prieto also had one of the six shots at goal for the Braves.
 
The Braves have now run their unbeaten run to five games on the bounce, with Sunday's victory serving as the third win in that spell. It's also back-to-back clean sheets for the Braves.
 
"It's exciting, but we have a lot more soccer left," added Larry. "Hopefully, we can continue with this momentum as we go forward into the final week of the regular season."
 
Alcorn travels to Mississippi Valley State for the final regular season match of the 2022 campaign when the Braves invade Itta Bena, Mississippi on Friday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m.
 
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