WASHINGTON, DC --- The Howard women's soccer team made a tremendous statement Friday evening, defeating the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) leading Mississippi Valley State University Devilettes, 4-1, in its penultimate conference match of the regular season.

For Howard (10-7, 6-3 SWAC), beating a MVSU team that came into the contest on an eight-game unbeaten streak (7-0-1) and sat atop the conference the majority of the season was an impressive feat heading into the SWAC Tournament (November 5-8).

THE RUNDOWN
-    The Bison seized control of the match early by scoring a pair of goals before the five minute mark. 
-    Freshman midfielder Anna Mitchell snapped a six-game goal scoring drought by putting HU on the board first (3'). Mitchell converted her shot off a throw-in from junior midfielder Sara Vaughan.
-    Sophomore forward Kela Gray extended Howard's advantage - and her team-leading goal tally - after freshman defender Zakiya Muhammad provided her with a picture-perfect through ball from about 40 yards (4'). 
-    MVSU (9-7-1, 6-1-1 SWAC) came out after halfitme and cut Howard's lead in half (54') but Mitchell would add her second score (59') by putting a second-chance shot home after a free kick by junior forward Carmen Suarez hit off the crossbar.
-    Sophomore forward/midfielder Whitney White scored her 10th goal of 2015 in the 78th minute, taking a Mitchell assist and turning it into an easy score.
-    Howard would end the night in third place in the SWAC with its conference finale against Alcorn State on Sunday looming.

NEXT UP
Howard's match with Alcorn State on Sunday, October 25 will begin at 1 p.m. at Greene Stadium.