HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Faced with the adversity of a 12-day layoff and playing without their starting goalkeeper, Alabama A&M (3-7-1, 1-1-1 SWAC) earned a hard fought 1-1 tie against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (8-7-1, 3-1-1) in an NCAA Division I women's soccer game on Friday, October 7.
The Bulldogs showed no rust as they took advantage early on as freshman defender
K'la Barnes-Blackwood (Margate, Fla.) drilled a ball down the middle of the field in the sixth minute. That landed at the foot of senior forward
Jameela Barrett (London, England) who proceeded to race downfield and put the ball past the keeper to the left hand corner of the net for a 1-0 lead at the 5:50 mark.
That was the third of a combined 16 shots in the first half, but one of only four that would require a save as the clubs headed to the break with that one goal margin.
A&M would come out firing in the second half with three shots over the first nine minutes but it would be UAPB that would finally break through. That would come in the 68
th minute as Natalie Freeman connected with Denisse Quintanilla for the equalizer with 67:04 gone by.
The Bulldogs would have an almost immediate opportunity to retake the lead as freshman forward
Chelsie Charles (Los Angeles, Calif.) was awarded a penalty kick following a foul in the box less than a minute later. Aimed at the lower righthand corner, the Golden Lions' Makaila Riedel was equal to the task, making the save and preserving the lead.
That would ignite a stretch of eight shots between the teams, including back-to-back attempts – one by each club – that required a save. Alabama A&M had their last best attempt in the 88
th minute as freshman forward
Taylor McNeal (Kennesaw, Ga.) put one on frame only to see Riedel hoover to help close out the 1-1 deadlock. Due to a recent rule change, regular season overtime has been legislated out of the game, leading to just 90 minutes of action.
Barrett would deliver the lone score with Barnes-Blackwood collecting the assist to lead A&M while freshman forward
Arianna Kinsley (Estero, Fla.) fired off four shots, putting two on net. Junior midfielder
Anouck Heyer (Bornheim, Germany) traded in her field uniform for a goalie kit as she stepped in to fill a need. She would play all 90 minutes, making three saves – including one full outstretched to preserve the tie – and allow just the one score to lock up the 1-1 tie.
A&M is right back in action on Sunday, October 9 as they host Grambling. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Bulldog Field.
