THIBODAUX, Louisiana| Just two days after dropping a road decision to Lamar to open the season, the Grambling State University women's soccer team got goals by Kailey Penaand Kaylee Holt as the Lady Tigers bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Nicholls on Sunday afternoon at the Nicholls Soccer Complex."I'm very pleased with how our team bounced back from adversity today after a tough opening loss," Grambling State head coach Justin Wagar said. "We responded well. GSU went down early in the game and didn't hesitate to battle back. We had a lot more focus and intensity today and battled until the end. It was a nice road win for our program."
Grambling State (1-1-0) fell behind in the 17th minute when Alison Ward scored off a deflection to give Nicholls (0-2-0) a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Tigers didn't fold and just eight minutes later, Jasmine Smith's cross found Pena for the equalizer in the 25th minute.
The score remained tied at 1 until the 57th minute when Holt converted a penalty kick to give Grambling State its first lead of the game and the season.
Turning Point
Down 1-0 after 17 minutes of action, Grambling State battled back and didn't let the deficit affect this young, but veteran squad.
Jasmine Smith's cross found Kailey Pena and the freshman found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal to tie the game at 1 in the 25th minute.
Pena's goal sparked the Lady Tigers as Grambling State and Nicholls went into the break level at 1.
Kaylee Holt, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, notched her first goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 57th minute as the Lady Tigers earned their first win of the season and avenged last season's 1-0 loss to the Colonials.
Win No. 1 in the books as the Lady Tigers defeat Nicholls #RespectTheG #grambling #gramblingstate #gramblingstateuniversity #WhyNotGrambling
Inside the Numbers
· Hanna Johnson started in the net for Grambling State and played all 90 minutes
· Hanna Johnson registered five saves on 13 shots faced
· Jade Gallaher notched three saves on 13 shots for the Colonials
· Grambling State finished with 14 shots, with five being on target
· Nicholls tallied 13 shots, including six on frame
· Both teams recorded five corner kicks
· There were 20 fouls (nine by Grambling State) and two yellow cards (both Grambling State)
News & Notes
· Grambling State dropped a 1-0 decision at home last season to Nicholls.
· Hanna Johnson made her first start in goal for the Lady Tigers
· Kailey Pena scored her first collegiate goal
· With the penalty-kick goal, Kaylee Holt now has scored 10 career goals for the Black and Gold
Up Next
Grambling State continues its four-game season-opening road swing with a trip out west as the Lady Tigers travel to Moscow, Idaho to face off against the University of Idaho. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m. (central) at the Kibbie-Asui Activity Center and will be broadcasted live on PlutoTV (Channel – 242).
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