PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers opened Southwestern Athletic Conference on winning note Friday, defeating Arkansas–Pine Bluff 2-0.
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Alicia Cooper and
Mila Bustos scored goals as the Lady Panthers (4-3-1) won their second match in a row and claimed their third victory in their last four matches.
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Senior goalkeeper
Dominique Dillon made five saves to earn her second shutout of the season. The defensive back line of
Braelah McGinnis,
Reina Cruz,
Alex Fields and
Breanna Powell limited the Golden Lions' chances during the game, as did
Courtney Aleman, who moved from the striker position to the backfield in the second half.
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After being denied a goal in the opening minute of the match, Cooper broke through with a goal in the 13th minute after intercepting a pass in the Lions' penalty area, scoring from four yards out. It was Cooper's team-leading fifth goal of the season.
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Though the Lady Panthers littered the Pine Bluff goal with shots, the visitors were down only one goal at the intermission. Five minutes after the restart, Bustos scored her first collegiate goal when she put home a rebound through traffic from the top of the penalty area that Pine Bluff keeper Makayla Cowles did not see until it was too late.
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Maria Del Carmen Rios Jean almost cut the lead in half when her free kick from 27 yards out sailed just over the Prairie View A&M crossbar 10 minutes from the final whistle. Two minutes later, Jean struck again, though her shot was turned away by Dillon.
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The Golden Lions (1-6) gave the home team a far better match Friday than in their previous meeting in Pine Bluff last year, when the Lady Panthers won 7-0.
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The Lady Panthers return to action Sunday when they host Grambling State at 1 p.m. Sunday's match will be the Lady Panthers' first home contest on air, as Open Mic Broadcast Network (
www.obnradio.com) will be there to relay the action. Mike Prince will have the call.
TWEET of the MATCHÂ
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