PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – A Beatriz Kretteis goal in the first of two extra-time periods was enough to see No. 2 seed Grambling State defeat No. 7 seed Alcorn, 1-0 in the quarterfinal round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Soccer Championships on Thursday at the Prairie View Soccer Complex.
Despite a fourth consecutive clean sheet for Alcorn at the end of regulation, it would take extra-time to decide the third game of this year's SWAC Championship Quarterfinals, with the event hosted by Prairie View A&M.
Grambling State (11-7-3) saw a shot from Ariyanna Buggs saved by Alcorn goalkeeper Paula Argelaguet, only to have it deflected right back into the path of Beatriz Kretteis who was positioned perfectly for the game-winning tap-in from a poacher's distance to give Grambling the 1-0 lead in the 96th minute – six minutes into the first extra-time period.
With Alcorn (5-9-4) setup on the day using a low block for the duration of the game, and the Braves looking to break on the counter with scoring threats Samara Nunn and Emily Serrato out front, the Braves allowed just a single shot in the opening 45 minutes of play. In fact, neither goalkeeper was bothered in the opening half, with neither facing a shot on-target.
However, in the second half, Grambling turned up the intensity in the final attacking-third.
Alcorn senior keeper Argelaguet was called into action for the first time on the day in the 57th minute as Grambling's Adrianna Pratt fired a shot from distance. The Tigers' Samantha Diaz followed with a 70th-minute shot that was collected into the arms of Argelaguet for the second of four second-half shots on-goal for the Tigers.
After Serrato was cautioned in the 76th minute, the Tigers ensuing play was a corner kick delivered into the box, allowing Beatriz Kretteis to get on the end of the delivery from teammate Nia Harley, but it was eventually tipped away by Argelaguet.
The best scoring chance for Alcorn came when Ha'Teya Holloman controlled a ball sent back outside to the top of the penalty area, where she fired a shot at goal, but it was just over the bar in a clear attempt.
With the game goalless in the 83rd minute, freshman forward Nunn received a pass from Serrato down the left flank that almost saw the Braves collect the win right at the death.
Nunn ran in behind the Grambling defense, but eventually saw her left-footed attempt at-goal saved by Tigers keeper Madison Covey-Taylor, as the Nunn attempt came on the heels of her making a 65-yard sprint.
Holding the 1-0 lead in the 100th minute, Grambling had a chance to double its lead if not for a save from Argelaguet off one three shots total in the game from Kretteis.
In the second period of extra-time, Alcorn added pressure in front of the Grambling net, as Covey-Taylor came up with a save on an Audrey Williams 103rd-minute attempt. The Braves would issue one last attack in the match following a 107th-minute yellow card foul by the Tigers' Kretteis. A Serrato corner kick was delivered into the box, but the Tigers defense was there to make the clearance and end the threat.
Alcorn finished the game with four shots total, but just the two on-target from Nunn and Williams, respectively.
For the game-winner Kretteis, her goal was the 10th of its kind on the season.
While the Alcorn season ends unceremoniously, Grambling advances to face the winner of No. 3 Southern (La.)/No. 6 Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday at 6 p.m.
Follow Alcorn Soccer on Twitter (
@AlcornSoccer) for all the latest news and updates. For all Alcorn State Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (
@BravesSports), Instagram (
@AlcornSports) and YouTube (
Alcorn State Sports)
.
