Match Preview | Texas Southern Visits Alcorn on Friday

Women's Soccer | 10/6/2022 2:04:00 PM

LORMAN, Miss. – Alcorn Soccer looks to rebound from a pair of tough defeats at home last weekend, as the Braves welcome Texas Southern to Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium for a pivotal Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) contest on Friday, Oct. 7. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
THE GAME: Alcorn Braves (2-7-1, 0-2-0 SWAC) vs. Texas Southern Tigers (3-8-2, 3-1-1 SWAC)
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. CT
WHERE: Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium (Lorman, Miss.)
 
IN THE RANKINGS
Alcorn is not ranked in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. Texas Southern is not ranked in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Keep up with everything Alcorn Soccer this year by following the Braves on all their social media platforms. You can follow @AlcornWomensSoccer on Instagram and @AlcornSoccer on Twitter.
 
SERIES VS. TEXAS SOUTHERN
Texas Southern leads the all-time series between the two schools, having won 18 and drawn one. In fact, the last time the two teams met, it was a goalless draw in Houston on October 15, 2021. Overall, in the series, the Braves have been held scoreless in nine of the 19 meetings dating back to the initial meeting in 2003 – the very first season of competitive soccer at Alcorn State University.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BRAVES
A 73rd-minute goal from Emily Serrato halved the deficit, but it wasn't enough as Alcorn fell at home to Southern (La.) by a score of 2-1 in SWAC women's soccer action at Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium in Lorman, Mississippi. After falling behind on a pair of second half goals in quick succession, Alcorn (2-7-1, 0-2-0) 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) 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.
 
FOUR IN A ROW
From September 23 through October 9, Alcorn Soccer will play four consecutive games at home in the friendly confines of Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium. This season, the Braves hold a record of five losses and a draw against zero (0) wins in all home games. This includes two games played at Sports Force Parks in nearby Vicksburg, Mississippi to begin the 2022 campaign.
 
SENIORS TO BE RECOGNIZED
Alcorn is set to honor five seniors on Sunday, Oct. 9, when the Braves host Prairie View A&M to Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium at 1 p.m. The Braves will be paying tribute to senior student-athletes Paula Argelaguet, Ha'Teya Holloman, Mikayla Shaughnessy and Jada Ward, while Alisa Evans is being honored as a longtime team manager for the Purple and Gold.
 
GOALS ARE COMING
The goals have been coming this season for the Braves, as Alcorn has been held goalless in just three of the Braves 10 contests so far on the campaign. In fact, the Purple and Gold have scored two or more goals in three contests, including a 2-2 win over East Texas Baptist on the road, as well as a 2-2 draw at home to Louisiana-Monroe.
 
THE ROAD, YOU SAY?
Prior to Alcorn's 2-1 win over East Texas Baptist (Sept. 4) on the road in Marshall, Texas, the Purple and Gold had never notched a win over an NCAA team in an official away match in school history. Following the win away to Centenary (La.) on Sept. 21, the Braves now have a pair of wins on the road in the same season against NCAA-affiliated institutions for the first time in school history.
 
ABOUT JACK SPINKS – MARINO CASEM STADIUM
Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium is a 22,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Lorman, Mississippi, which is the home field of the Alcorn State University Braves football team, as well as the women's soccer team. The stadium is surrounded by the campus of Alcorn State University and is adjacent to the Davey Whitney Complex. Opened in 1992, Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium replaced Henderson Stadium. Its name is derived from former Alcorn State Braves football player Jack Spinks. The name was changed to the Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Memorial Stadium in 2011, after then Alcorn State President M. Christopher Brown II stated, "Coach Casem helped Alcorn State University Athletics increase both in stature and in reputation to become a nationally recognized university".
 
ALCORN PREDICTED TO FINISH 8TH IN SWAC
Alcorn Soccer was predicted to finish eighth in the 2022 SWAC Predicted Order of Finish, released by the league office Friday, Aug. 12, from the conference headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
UP NEXT
Alcorn will host Prairie View A&M to Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium for "Senior Appreciation Day" on Sunday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m.
 
Follow Alcorn State Soccer on Twitter (@AlcornSoccer) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Alcorn State Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BravesSports), Instagram (@AlcornSports) and YouTube (Alcorn State Sports).