JACKSON, MS and BATON ROUGE, LA – The UAPB Lady Lions opened conference play this weekend with a Friday game versus Jackson State and a Sunday game versus Southern.

Friday's game was on-campus at Jackson State's new soccer field. The Lady Lions were excited and ready to play this cross-divisional rival.

In the first half neither team found the back of the net but the Lady Lions had many chances near the Lady Tigers goal. The game was physical as both teams recorded a yellow card booking in the first half. Each team recorded ten shots in the game.

Senior Daphnee Cadet opened the scoring in the second half at the 55^th minute. Cadet's goal was assisted by junior defender Erika Forbes.

“I thought that we did really well at the start of the game. We came out a little flat in the second half but overall we grinded it out. Daphnee's goal brought our team's momentum up and we continued working hard. We still have a few things to polish up on but I think we can get organized. The JSU game is just another example of how our team can grow and develop into a better side,” said Coach Mazza.

Sunday's game was also played on-campus at Southern's football stadium. The Lady Lions came out with a dominant style of play and opened the scoring in the first five minutes.

Junior midfielder Silvia Fuentes opened the scoring at the 3^rd minute off a pass from junior midfielder Rachel Harker. The Lady Lions continued to dominate the possession of the ball and scored again in the 19^th minute. A Fuentes corner kick found the head of junior forward Nicole Parks-Powell who flew over Southern defenders and scored her eighth goal of the season. Parks-Powell leads the SWAC and the team in goals.

Parks-Powell got on the board again at the 31^st minute when she assisted a Charade Davis header. Sophomore midfielder Charade Davis scored her first goal of the season off a Parks-Powell's cross.

The Lady Lions began the second half with intensity and scored in the in 50^th minute. Parks-Powell got her second assist of the game when she made a through ball pass to sophomore Taryn Wright. This was Wright's first goal of the season.

In the 59^th minute Harker scored off a Fuentes assist with a shot from 25 yards out. Two minutes later Taryn Wright scored her second goal of the game off a Fuentes assist.

The Lady Lions capped off the scoring at the 82^nd minute. Charade Davis scored her second goal of the season and of the game from a pair of assists from senior Daphnee Cadet and junior Erika Forbes.

The Lady Lions recorded a team high of shots in a game with thirty-six and nineteen of those being on goal. Senior Goalkeeper Bre-Ann Laypoole recorded her second shut out. The Lady Lions have a total of five shutouts so far this season.

“I thought that we connected in all aspects of this game versus Southern and the result demonstrates this. I am proud of the girls for coming out and performing well this weekend,” said Coach Mazza.

The Lady Lions play this Friday at home at 3PM versus the Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University.