CARBONDALE, Ill. – Defense would travel to a point as Alabama A&M (2-3, 0-0 SWAC) took on first-time opponent Southern Illinois (1-2, 0-0 OVC), shutting them out in the first half, before a pair of second half scores led to a 2-0 loss in an NCAA Division I women's soccer game on Thursday, September 1.
 
Both teams would fire off five shots in the opening 45 minutes but none would find their way to the twine as the clubs headed to the break deadlocked at 0-0. It would stay that way until the 53^rd minute when the Salukis finally broke through as Liz Brechtel found McKensey Bunch for the go-ahead goal at the 52:04 mark.
 
After surrendering that low liner the defense would lock back in for the next 27 minutes before Brechtel struck again, this time taking it herself to the back right corner to extend to a two goal margin with 79:43 gone by. Offense would be nearly nonexistent over the final 10 minutes as freshman defender K'la Barnes-Blackwood (Margate, Fla.) registered the only shot, firing high and right at 82:29, before SIU closed out the 2-0 victory.
 
Senior forward Jameela Barrett (London, England), Barnes-Blackwood and senior forward Makayla Rushing (Red Oak, Texas) each fired off two shots, with Barrett putting both on net, to lead A&M offensively. Senior goalkeeper Laura Jansa (Barcelona, Spain) played all 90 minutes in goal, allowing both scores and making four saves to fall 2-3 on the year.
 
Brechtel anchored the Salukis' offense with a goal and an assist while Bunch had the other score and Maddy Alaluf went the distance, making five saves to secure the shutout and move to 1-2 on the year.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action just under a week from now in a game that was just added to the schedule. That will be a trip to Miami, Florida to take on Florida International on Wednesday, September 7.