Huntsville, Ala. – The Lady Bison of Howard University captures the 2014 Southwestern Athletic Conference Soccer Tournament Championship with a 2-1 victory over Prairie View A&M University at the John Hunt Soccer Complex.
Melissa Kalbfleisch came back at the 6:13 minute mark and launched the ball straight through Dickinson, putting the Lady Panthers up by one, recording her second goal of the year. Nia Walcott received the ball on the opposite end and attempted to give the Lady Bison their first goal of the match but was shot too wide.
Carmen Suarez took the first corner kick for Howard in the 16th minute, giving Nikanya Clark the chance to attack the ball but was unable to capitalize on the play. After taking the ball back and forth down the field for about 10 minutes, Howard got a good possession with the ball.
Dytria Ruddy crossed a player, becoming wide open with the ball and connected with the net at the 24:41 minute mark, scoring her fourth goal of the season, tying the game 1-1.
Shots were limited until Prairie View’s Deborah Arguelles blasted a shot during the last nine minutes of the first half from the left side that was successfully blocked by Dickinson.
Howard led the first half with a total of seven shots, Ruddy calculated three of those shots. The Lady Panthers tallied five shots in the first half, with Kalbfleisch with two.
Howard’s Nikanya Clark sparked the second half with an early goal in the first six minutes, pushing the Lady Bison’s lead, 2-1. Clark was assisted by Nia Walcott.
The Lady Bison had many attempts afterward, but the Lady Panthers weren’t allowed another shot until the 68th minute when #15 Dominique Paige aimed the ball right in the net but was recovered by Howard’s goalie.
The Lady Bison had three back to back shot attempts in a two minute span in the last 11 minutes of the match. Prairie View’s goalie Bianca Garza stepped up and made the saves.
Prairie View A&M was unable to capitalize on any more shots the remainder of the match. Howard (13-9-1) outshot the Lady Panthers 17-13.
Garza finished the afternoon with five saves and Dickinson tallied nine for the Lady Bison.
Nikanya Clark finishes as the tournament’s MVP with a total of three goals.
She joins her teammates Sara Vaughan, Nia Walcott, Dytria Ruddy, Treschelle-Gibson Serrette and Kyra Dickinson on the all-tournament team.
With this being Howard’s inaugural season in the SWAC, Prairie View A&M, the tournament’s runner up receives the NCAA Automatic Qualifier and will advance to the NCAA Regional’s.
Courtesy: SWAC.org
