PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University opened the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament Thursday with a 1-0 win over host Prairie View A&M.
Paige Hayward's unassisted strike in the 49th minute proved to be the match-winner and helped the Lady Tigers avenge a loss in the regular-season finale against Prairie View A&M on the same field.
The strike by Hayward also provided a bit of history for the Lady Tigers and the Australian striker. The goal was the 25th of Hayward's TSU career, which made her the Lady Tigers' all-time leading scorer.
Texas Southern, the No. 5-seeded team in the tournament, improved to 8-7-2 with the win. The Lady Panthers, who overtook TSU for fourth place in the conference with the win last week, saw their season end with a 6-7-2 record.
TSU goalkeeper Tammy Syron, who this week was named the SWAC's Freshman of the Year, made five saves to post her fifth shutout of the season. She was helped by the starting defense of Bailey Blalock, Brooke Ianiero, Briana Norwood, and senior Maya Turner; the Lady Tigers defense allowed only 10 total shots to Prairie View A&M.
The first-round win over the Lady Panthers was a repeat of the 2016 tournament, when TSU claimed the program's first-ever postseason victory.
Last season's second-round opponent for the Lady Tigers await them again Friday when the team faces SWAC regular-season champion Alabama State. Kickoff at the PVAMU Soccer Complex is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
Paige Hayward's unassisted strike in the 49th minute proved to be the match-winner and helped the Lady Tigers avenge a loss in the regular-season finale against Prairie View A&M on the same field.
The strike by Hayward also provided a bit of history for the Lady Tigers and the Australian striker. The goal was the 25th of Hayward's TSU career, which made her the Lady Tigers' all-time leading scorer.
Texas Southern, the No. 5-seeded team in the tournament, improved to 8-7-2 with the win. The Lady Panthers, who overtook TSU for fourth place in the conference with the win last week, saw their season end with a 6-7-2 record.
TSU goalkeeper Tammy Syron, who this week was named the SWAC's Freshman of the Year, made five saves to post her fifth shutout of the season. She was helped by the starting defense of Bailey Blalock, Brooke Ianiero, Briana Norwood, and senior Maya Turner; the Lady Tigers defense allowed only 10 total shots to Prairie View A&M.
The first-round win over the Lady Panthers was a repeat of the 2016 tournament, when TSU claimed the program's first-ever postseason victory.
Last season's second-round opponent for the Lady Tigers await them again Friday when the team faces SWAC regular-season champion Alabama State. Kickoff at the PVAMU Soccer Complex is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics