2015 Soccer Championship Preview: Alabama State takes on Howard
SWAC.org
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama State meets Howard for the 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference Soccer Championship Sunday morning at 11 a.m. at the Jon Hunt Soccer Complex. The Lady Hornets finished the regular season third, while the Bison finished fourth.
ALST enters the finals for the first time since 2013 when it fell to Jackson State, 1-0. That season was the freshman year of standout, sister duo Ariela Lewis and Aaliyah Lewis.
Now juniors, the Lewis sisters lead the Lady Hornets offensively, registering a total six goals alone during the 2015 tournament. Ar. Lewis claimed two during the 3-0 sweep of Texas Southern, while Aa. Lewis added the third score – eliminating the Lady Tigers and putting ALST in the semi-finals. Ar. Lewis went on to use a hat trick to defeat Prairie View A&M, securing the Lady Hornets' spot in the championship game.
Joining ALST in the finals is Howard. The Bison are in their second year with the SWAC after tagging an impressive first season to their resume. In 2014, HOWD won the Conference regular season crown as well as the championship against Prairie View A&M. Since it was their inaugural year with the SWAC, the Bison were not able to move forward at the NCAA Soccer Tournament, but all things are possible this season.
Kela Gray helped improve the Bison to the finals after earning a team-high 17 goals on the season with a .563 shot on target percentage. But, the whole squad kept HOWD in the mix during the 2015 tournament. The Bison blanked Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the quarter-finals with scores from Anna Mitchell and Makela Davidson. The semi-finals proved difficult for the Bison, having to face this year's regular season champion, Mississippi Valley State. The match against the Devilettes went into triple overtime with a 4-3 shootout ended things in favor of HOWD.
The SWAC will live stream the championship game for the first time ever on SWAC Digital Network. Fans may also stay informed on the finals via live stats or by following The SWAC on social media.