GRAMBLING, La. | Brittany Terry's goal with 20 seconds remaining lifted the Grambling State University women's soccer team to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Howard on Sunday to open Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play at the GSU Soccer Complex.
 
"We're the cardiac kids," Grambling State head coach Justin Wagar said. "To get the goal in the first and last minute was amazing. I am so proud of the girls for grinding out a big win for our program. Becoming a winning team is a process and we're learning as we go and hopefully will continue to get strong. Howard is a talented team of experienced players. It's a great day to be a Grambling State University Tiger."
 
The Lady Tigers (3-5 overall, 1-0 SWAC) wasted little time in netting the game's first goal.
 
It took just 22 seconds as the Lady Bison failed to clear the ball out of the back and Kaylee Holt pounced on the loose ball and fired a shot into an open net to give Grambling State a 1-0 advantage.
 
The Lady Tigers maintained the 1-0 lead until the 80th minute when Kela Gray battled down the left sideline and beat two Grambling State defenders before slotting the ball past GSU goalkeeper Jordan Woodward to the tie game at 1.
 
With time winding down, the Lady Tigers had a throw in from the left side. Terry, known for her flip throw-ins, launched the ball high into the penalty area, where Howard goalkeeper Gabrielle Emilien could not grab the loose ball as it found its way into the net to give Grambling State the 2-1 victory.
 
Turning Point
The remarkable start to the match gave Grambling State the energy it needed to battle Howard for a full 90 minutes.
 
Holt's goal 22 seconds into the game sparks the momentum of play for the Lady Tigers in the opening half. In the second half, the Lady Bison (2-7, 1-1) didn't make things easy with Gray's goal tying the game, but in the end, Grambling State picked up its first victory since Sept. 8.
 
Inside the Numbers
· Grambling State goalkeeper Jordan Woodward finished with one save in 90 minutes.
· Gabrielle Emilien registered four saves for the Lady Bison.
· Grambling State out-shot Howard, 12-4, including a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal.
· The Lady Tigers held the edge in corner kicks, 4-2.
· It was a sloppy game where the two teams combined for 25 fouls and two yellow cards.
 
News & Notes
· All but one of Grambling State's games this season has been determined by one goal.
· Grambling State has started SWAC play 1-0 for the first time since 2009.
· The victory on Sunday was the Lady Tigers' third of the season and has already surpassed the win total from the past six seasons. In fact, the last time the Lady Tigers had won three or more matches was in 2009 (10-7-1).
 
Up Next
The Lady Tigers return to action on Friday, Sept. 29 as Jackson State comes to town. The match is set for 4 p.m. at the GSU Soccer Complex.
 
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