The Panther

Issue date: 10/5/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Gitonga M'Mbijjewe One on one: Junior, Catherine Burnley dribbles the ball downfield and protects it from Alcorn defenders Friday.

The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers split their weekend contests against Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State at the Lady Panther soccer field on Friday and Sunday respectively. The gray cloud hanging over the Lady Panther soccer team was blown away with its first win of the season over Alcorn State 5-3. The win also gave the Lady Panthers their first conference victory of the year.  At intermission the Lady Braves held a 2-0 lead and were in control of the game.  

"We didn't make many adjustments at halftime," said head coach Felicia Davis.  "I told the team to find the answers within themselves as to why we weren't playing up to our caliber and that's what they did." En route to a comeback effort, Prairie View's first goal was scored by senior Nancy Rodriguez at the 57:36 mark in the second half. The goal shifted the momentum toward the Lady Panthers' side. 

"Once we scored our first goal, everyone on the team felt the pendulum swing in our direction, and they just took off from that point" said Coach Davis.

Freshmen Gloria Andrade and Jessica Palomares added two goals at the 31:02 mark and 26:27 mark of the second half respectively tying the game at 3-3. Sophomore Kallena Marshall scored the go-ahead goal with 16:24 remaining in the game to give the Panthers the lead for good. Marshall sealed the game with the last and final goal of the game with 3:56 left to play to. For the game, Prairie View goalkeeper Amy Miller recorded seven saves and captured her first win of the season. Prairie View's Kallena Marshall chipped in two goals and one assist. Two days later, on Sunday, the Lady Panthers took the field against Mississippi Valley State. The contest was close from start to finish as each team was held scoreless in the first half. With 10 minutes remaining in the second half, Mesa's Ashley Bailey scored an unassisted goal to put Mississippi Valley State ahead 1-0. The lead stood for the remainder of the contest as Prairie View fell, dropping its second conference game of the season. Prairie View goalkeeper Miller recorded nine saves in the contest, allowing only one goal.

"We'll have to come out focused on Friday if we plan on defeating Texas Southern," said Davis. "We control our own destiny at this point, so it will be important for us to execute up to our capabilities."

The Prairie View Lady Panther soccer team will return to action on Friday Oct. 7 when they host Texas Southern University. The game will be played at the Lady Panther soccer field at 6 p.m.

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