Soccer Opens Road Trip With Comeback Win

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Texas Southern started off its road trip on the right foot with a 2-1 win over Alabama State Friday night.

“Tonight was a good turning point for us. We have talked in length about our mentality from game to game,” said head coach Lindsay Vera. “We have to be a team that can stay true to our style of play and trust each other no matter how the game develops.”

TSU played solid defense to begin the first half as the Hornets had several scoring opportunities early on. ASU had three corner kick attempts in the first eight minutes in addition to six shot attempts in the half compared to three by TSU.

TSU’s backs were against the wall six minutes into the second period as ASU scored the game’s first goal for a 1-0 lead. However, the team bounced back immediately as Lex Luna scored off of an assist for the 1-1 tie in the 52nd minute.

“(Even though) We went down a goal, we kept our heads up and continued moving the ball,” said Vera. “Two minutes later we found the back of the net. Des battled down the sideline, got around the defender and sent a beautiful pass into the box. Lex Luna was right where she needed to be, on the receiving end, and put the ball away with a powerful header over the ASU GK’s hands.”

The Tigers were the aggressor from that point with a pair of shot attempts. In the 75th minute, Bailey Blalock would score the game-winner off an assist from Jada MacLean as the defense would do the rest as goalie Salma Ghazal picked up a huge save in the 83rd minute to preserve the win.

“The second goal was also produced from patient possession,” added Vera. “We had a lot of movement around their penalty box. When the ball deflected out wide Bailey corralled it with her first touch and buried it with the second. We never lost momentum and we never doubted our ability to respond and find success. Tonight was very good.”

TSU is back in action Sunday afternoon against Alabama A&M at 1 p.m. in Huntsville, Ala.