PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas | Grambling's amazing run during the unprecedented spring 2021 season ended in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Final with a 2-2 draw in double overtime (2-OT) before falling 1-3 in penalty kicks. The loss snaps GSU's 6-match win streak as the team finishes the season with an overall record of 8-2-2.
"I'm very proud of each player on this team," said first year GSU head coach
Craig Roberts. "They have developed so much on and off the field in so many ways. The experiences I have been fortunate to share with these student-athletes over the past several weeks has been incredible," explained Roberts. "We are proud of what we have accomplished, disappointed not to win the final, but are truly motivated and excited to learn from the event."
After a very competitive start to the championship match, the Lady Hornets broke the scoreless contest when ASU forward Teaggan Ilela scored a goal from a bending corner kick which was mishandled by GSU goalkeeper
Britt Verhees. It was the first goal that Grambling had allowed all tournament.
Early in the second half, GSU (8-2-2 overall, 6-1-1 SWAC) striker
Macy Ramsey struck a beautiful ball with her right foot from well outside the 18-yard box that sailed over the head of ASU goalkeeper Madison Ropp and into the back of the net (53rd min.), bringing the score to 1-1. In the 67th minute of action, Alabama State responded by scoring a goal on a volley from defender Mercedes Padilla as the back line of GSU could not fully clear the ball that was roaming around in its own 18-yard box.
However, the
NCAA's second leading scorer and
SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Kailey Pena did what she has done all season and scored the equalizer in the 72nd minute of play off a perfectly executed set piece. Second-team All-SWAC defender
Kamaron Powell played a brilliant ball into the box that found Pena's head as she confidently headed the ball over Ropp's head to tie the match at two goals apiece.
In overtime, the
nation's second ranked player in goals per game, Pena (1.44), had Grambling's best chance to end the conference Final match in golden goal style with a low shot that got behind Ropp but ricocheted off the right post and slowly trickled across the mouth of the goal before being cleared by an ASU defender. GSU goalie
Rachel Pugh began the OT period in the net for Grambling and made a crucial save to preserve the tie.
In the penalty kick shootout, GSU scored first as
Miranda Urbizu calmly placed the ball past the ASU keeper. The Lady Hornets countered by scoring on its first PK attempt, then Pena generated the first miss of the shootout as her attempt sailed wide right.
Alabama State connected on its next PK to take a 2-1 lead before
Kaydeen Jack missed a chance to even the shootout at two goals apiece. That's when ASU's Padilla beat GSU goalkeeper Pugh for the potential match-winning shot.
The Tigers had one more chance to stay alive in the heated SWAC championship match as sophomore
Laila Loring stepped up for the attempt, but Grambling's penalty kick woes continued as Loring's shot slowly rolled wide left, ending the shootout.
Pena, Jack and Powell were all named to the Spring 2021 SWAC Soccer All-Tournament team.
"We are a team, and as a team, we will come back even stronger next time," said Roberts.
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