MONTGOMERY, AL --- Only two Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games have been played between the Howard women's soccer team and Alabama State University, but an intense, hard fought rivalry seems to be building in real time.

The Bison rallied past the Lady Hornets for a 3-2 win in 2014 en route to its SWAC regular season and tournament titles but ASU returned the favor Friday evening by virtue of a 1-0 victory over Howard at the ASU Soccer Complex.

Howard (4-5) held a 10-7 edge in shots on goal and conceded a slight 16-18 edge in total shots to Alabama State (1-7-1). In games this close, the difference tends to come from lucky bounces of the ball.

In the Bison's case, one unlucky bounce is all it took.

2014 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Aaliyah Lewis - the conference's preseason selection for the same honor - scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 59th minute as freshman goalkeeper Mackenzie Diotte charged up the box to challenge any potential shot. The shot deflected off of a Howard defender as Diotte made a play on it but the ball landed back in the vicinity of Lewis, who dribbed past Diotte and converted a wide open shot on goal.

Howard had several chances in the closing minutes to tie the score, including a pair in the final seconds the either hit the crossbar or sailed wide.

The intensity of the budding rivalry was evident in the number of cards given in the match - a total of five (one yellow and four reds): two reds on Lewis and twin sister Ariela, two reds on Howard sophomore I-sis Wilson & Rasheeda Ansari and a yellow on ASU head coach Jodie Smith.

NEXT UP
Howard will look to finish its opening SWAC road trip at 1-1 with a matchup against Alabama A&M University on Sunday, September 27 at 2 p.m Eastern.