2012 SWAC Soccer Tournament - Quarter & Semifinals
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Semifinals - November 2
Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State Advance to Finals
Jackson State 1, Prairie View 1 (JSU 2-0 in Shootout)
Jackson State and Prairie View A&M followed the first game of the semifinals with yet another marathon. the two teams battled to a draw through 110 minutes, then when PVAM couldn't find the back of the net, JSU came away with a 2-0 shootout victory to advance to the championship game to face Mississippi Valley. PVAM finished the season with a league-best record of 9-10.
PVAM had the early advantage after Yosselyn Aguilar scored and unassisted goal in the 9th minute. That lead stood until the last six minutes of the game when JSU tied the game on a goal by Kleopatra Ruddock. Shahamin Nunes had the assist and the score was knotted at 1-1 with 5:50 left.
After two overtimes couldn't settle the issue, the teams engaged in a shootout. It was a bizarre shootout as both teams struggled to score.
Ruddock opened things by sending a blast past PVAM keeper Biana Garza. However, Angie Guillory couldn't answer for the Lady Panthers, leaving JSU with a 1-0 advantage. But, Raquel Araujo fired high for JSU, giving PVAM a reprieve. Araujo actually had two shots at the goal after Garza was called for being across the goal line. But, the second shot was an instant replay of the first, sailing high into the night.
With a chance to even things up, Crystal San Martin couldn't evade JSU keeper Taylor Emerson who snuffed out her shot, preserving the 1-0 lead. Then, with a chance to make it a 2-0 shootout, Nunes sailed one way over the goal, leaving hope for PVAM. However, Emerson came up with another stop on Genevieve Devany.
The next shooter for JSU, Kimberlie Hernandez, finally nailed her shot leaving PVAM with a do-or-die chance to stay alive. But, like her teammates before her, Navyd Diaz was unable convert and PVAM was out of chances.
Mississippi Valley 1, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1 (MVSU 9-8 in Shootout)
It took nearly three hours, but Mississippi Valley State erased the memory of losing to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the championship game of the 2011 tournament. The Devilettes earned a trip back to the finals by beating UAPB 9-8 in a shootout. UAPB ended their season at 6-14-2.
The issue would be unsettled after 90 minutes of regulation and a pair of overtime periods. MVSU was against the wall early after Kristin Swanson's attempt was saved by UAPB keeper Alyssa Cobbs. However, with the goal count tied at 3-3, MVSU keeper Shelby Willcocks gave her team new life by stopping Erica Cervantes.
Both teams made their first shots, sending the game into a sudden death 1-v-1 session. The first players on each side made their shots. Nicolle Forcier put MVSU up 9-8. Then, Casey Hogan's shot hit off the crossbar and sailed away harmlessly, igniting a wild celebration by the Devilettes.
Forcier notched the first goal of the game, re-directing a shot into the net in the 20th minute. In the second half, Boler tied the game for UAPB heading in a shot that came off of the pipe.
Quarterfinals - November 1
UAPB Eliminates Top Seed Alabama A&M
Defending SWAC champion, Arkansas-Pine Bluff knocked off top seeded Alabama A&M with a 2-1 win during the first round of the 2012 Conference Soccer Tournament. With the win, UAPB (6-13-2) kept alive their chances of defending their title, advancing to Friday semifinal round. Meanwhile, after a great stretch run that saw them claim the East Division title, A&M's season ended at 5-13.
The Carrera sisters, Celeste and Czelene, combined for two goals and an assist to lead the Lady Lions. Czelene Carrera scored the first goal of the game in the 27th minute off of an assist by Molly Stone. Three minutes later, she struck again. This time, the assist came from sister Celeste in the 30th minute. The back-to-back goals gave UAPB a 2-0 lead at intermission.
In the second half, A&M cut the lead in half on a goal off of a penalty kick by Ana Huertas in the 76th minute. The Lady Bulldogs had a chance to tie the game and send it into overtime, but a final shot by Carre Rodriguez missed high of the goal as time expired.
Alabama A&M held the advantage in shots 18-9. UAPB keeper Alyssa Cobbs had seven saves to earn the win.
Mississippi Valley Blanks Grambling, Setting up Finals Rematch
The first semifinal match on Friday will be a rematch of the 2011 tournament championship game as Mississippi Valley State knocked off Grambling 1-0 in the second game of the SWAC Soccer Championship tournament. The Devilettes will face Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 3:30 on Friday at the Johnny Downs Soccer Complex. UAPB beat MVSU 3-0 in the championship game to advance to the NCAA Regional tournament.
The trio of Kayla Boyd, Alexandria Neumann and Hailey Beekman combined to provide the only score of the game for MVSU. Beekman scored the goal, while Neumann and Boyd set the table for her to earn the assists.
MVSU keeper Shelby Willcocks didn't have to work too hard, facing only one shot on goal and five total in the shutout. On the other side, MVSU finished with 13 shots, seven on goal.
Prairie View A&M holds on to beat Alabama State
Yosselyn Aguilar scored a goal and had an assist to lead Prairie View A&M to a 3-2 win over Alabama State in first round action at the 2012 SWAC Soccer Tournament. PVAM (9-10) advanced to the semifinal round on Friday, while Alabama State ended their season at 7-9-2
PVAM scored first in the 25th minute when Aguilar sprinted through ASU defenders knocking in a kick from the right hand side. Christine Hanson scored the Lady Panthers' second goal of the half in the 33rd minute with an assist from Aguilar.
ASU responded when junior forward India Pleasant assisted sophomore forward Alexandria Cannon with 5:49 left in the first half to cut the lead to 2-1 at intermission.
The Panthers quickly added to their lead early in the second half when Navyd Diaz scored to make it 3-1 two minutes into the second half.
Cannon would again bring the Hornets within a goal with an assisted goal from freshman forward Anastasia McCleary in the 62nd minute of the match.
Cannon brought the Lady Hornets to within a goal with her second tally of the game off of an assist from Anastasia McCleary. However, that would be the final goal of the season for ASU.
The goal from Cannon would round out the scoring for both teams and end the season for ASU.
Jackson State Rounds out the Final Four
Ariana Gardner sliced through the Texas Southern defense for the only goal of the game as Jackson State advanced to the semifinals of the SWAC Soccer Championship tournament with a 1-0 win. TSU advances to the next round to face Prairie View on Friday.
Both keepers did an outstanding job, but when Gardner beat the JSU defense in the 22nd minute, it would be the difference. TSU outshot JSU 9-7. Rebecca Hajny had four saves for TSU and Taylor Emerson had two saves to earn the shutout.