GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University women's soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to six games on Friday afternoon as the Lady Tigers sit atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) standings alone after a 2-0 victory over Alabama State at the GSU Soccer Complex.
 
"The girls stepped up big today and got a quality win against a talented team," Grambling State first-year head coach Justin Wagar said. "I'm proud of how we played. It's a great day to be a GSU Tiger."
 
Alabama State (6-7-0 overall, 4-2-0 SWAC), the defending SWAC Tournament champions, came into Friday's game having won two out of its last three games and had moved within a half-game of first place in the SWAC standings.
 
Grambling State (7-5-1, 5-0-1), coming off a 3-3 draw on Sunday to Prairie View A&M, came out with energy and the hard work was rewarded in the 17th minute.
 
The Lady Tigers earned their first corner kick of the game and Jasmine Smith served up the free kick. The ball was headed off the post by an Alabama State defender and rebounded to Jessica Miller-Ulmer. The Surrey, British Columbia native stroked the ball past Lady Hornets goalkeeper Gianna Guyot to give Grambling State a 1-0 lead.
 
The Lady Tigers held the 1-0 advantage until the 78th minute when Grambling State put the finally touches on a brilliant afternoon.
 
Brittany Terry was fouled on the right side of the penalty area to set up a free kick. Terry, who took the free kick, played a chip, with the outside of her foot, into the penalty area as Clarissa Rivas got a body on the ball as it trickled past Guyot for the goal.
 
With the two-goal lead, Grambling State closed out the game and preserved the shutout victory for goalkeeper Jordan Woodward.
 
Turning Point
To borrow a phrase from the late Tom Petty, the Grambling State women's soccer team didn't back down.
 
The Lady Tigers stood toe-to-toe with Alabama State for 90 minutes and walked away victorious.
 
The turning point was in the 17th minute when Jessica Miller-Ulmer collected the loose ball off the post and knocked it into the back of the net.
 
Not only did that give Grambling State the momentum, but it forced Alabama State to play from behind. The Lady Tigers eventually got an insurance goal in the second half for the 2-0 victory.
 
Inside the Numbers
· Jordan Woodward played all 90 minutes in goal for the Lady Tigers and registered two saves, both coming in the first half.
· Gianna Guyot finished with one save for the Lady Tigers.
· Grambling State held a 7-6 edge in shots and a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal.
· The Lady Tigers had a pair of corner kicks in the first half, while Alabama State picked up its lone corner kick late in the second half.
· There were 23 total fouls and three yellow cards.
 
News and Notes
· With the victory, Grambling State is just three victories shy of matching the 2009 team (10-7-1).
· During the Lady Tigers' unbeaten streak, GSU has won three one-goal games.
· Grambling State now has gone a month without a loss (last loss – Sept. 13 --- 3-2 overtime to Louisiana Tech).
· Grambling State has four games remaining – two home and two away.
· The Lady Tigers now hold the tiebreaker of Alabama State, Texas Southern and Howard in the SWAC standings.
· A win on Sunday afternoon against Alabama A&M would cement Grambling State a spot into the SWAC Women's Soccer Tournament (Nov. 2-5).
 
Up Next
The Lady Tigers conclude their two-game homestand with a 1 p.m. SWAC match against Alabama A&M at the GSU Soccer Complex.
 
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