The Alabama State University Lady Hornets (1-5) fell to the Gardner-Webb University  Runnin’ Lady Bulldogs (2-4) in a 1-0 defeat at the ASU Soccer Complex on Sept. 5.

This win gives the Lady Bulldogs a 3-0 record against the Lady Hornets, with their last win coming in the 2018 soccer season. This game is also the second straight loss for the Hornets as they remain winless at home. 

The two teams battled it out in a highly contested first half. Both teams’ defense was on point, holding each other scoreless in the first half. The only score came on a goal by Lady Bulldogs defender Marina Bradic in the 53rd minute of the game. 

The Lady Hornets’ defense was again led by the great play from goalie Sheila Sanchez. The junior from Castellon, Spain, made three saves in this game. She has been responsible for so many of the stops the Lady Hornets have been able to get this season, because of her 37 saves and 75% save percentage.

Like so many of the Lady Hornets’ games this season, their defense has been good, but their offense has struggled. 

Head coach Jodie Smith said, “We are creating a lot of great opportunities, just lacking a little focus in front of goal.”

The Lady Hornets’ offensive struggles were not for a lack of trying as they outshot the Lady Bulldogs 20-8, with five shots on goal for the Lady Hornets to the Lady Bulldogs’ four shots. Their offensive struggles have become a trend for this season, with the Lady Hornets only scoring 3 points against South Carolina State University in their only win of the season. 

“Another game where we did more than enough to win, and this was probably our best 90 minutes of the season,” Smith said. 

These kinds of games can go either way, and they have just gone to the other team so far. Solving their offensive woes and continuing the great defensive play will help them much more as the season continues. 

The Lady Hornets look to get back into the win column in their two-game road trip this weekend. In their first game, they play the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Sept. 10, and then they take on Faulkner University on Sept. 12.