Box ScoreFreshman midfielder Sabina Claesson scored her first career goal by finishing into the far post on a feed from sophomore forward Aaliyah Lewis in the 65^thminute to lift the Alabama State women's soccer team to 1-0 nonconference road victory at the University of North Carolina-Asheville on Friday evening. 
 
"She's been able to find a little bit of rhythm for herself," said ASU coach Jodie Smith of Claesson.  "She put herself in a good position and really finished a nice goal.  She's been playing better and better so I think that has definitely given her more confidence.  She was so excited to get it that that she jumped up in the air and every player on the team pretty much joined in the celebration."
 
The Lady Hornets (3-2 overall, 2-2 on the road) have proven to be headstrong when tested in closely contested matches thus far this season.  ASU's victories have all come by the margin of 1-0 with wins against South Carolina State, South Carolina-Upstate and now UNC-Asheville. 
 
The match was nip and tuck throughout the contest as neither squad could muster a score in the opening half of play.
 The Lady Bulldogs (3-2) outshot ASU 21-5, but senior goalkeeper Kylee Hathaway (Pomona, Calif. / Diamond Ranch) and the Lady Hornets' defense was up to the task. 
 
"Kylee made some big saves today to keep us in the game," said coach Smith. "She made a great save in the closing seconds of the match where she had to extend for it."  
 
It marks the 15^th career shutout and third this season for Hathaway, who turned away nine shots. 
 
The win feels especially gratifying for Alabama State as the teams battled in a see-saw affair in their previous meeting last Sept. 13.  In that match, each team took the lead before seeing their opponent come up with the equalizer.   The Lady Hornets eventually dropped a dramatic 3-2 match in overtime.
 
On Friday, UNC-Asheville held a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks, but players like junior college transfer Shelby Vienna-Hallam (Tazmania, Australia/Peninsula JC) were able to keep the ASU defense composed under pressure.
 
"Great road win for us," said coach Smith.  "I felt like the key to the game was our defense led by Shelbi [Vienna-Hallam].  She kept us very organized.  We are starting to put really good halves together and play for 90 minutes." 
 
The match was originally scheduled to be played at Greenwood Field at 5:30 p.m. EST, but was rescheduled after a heavy rain storm caused flooding to the field.  Instead, the match begun at 7:30 p.m. at T.C. Roberson High School in Asheville.   
 
On Sunday, the Lady Hornets travel for a noon central start at Presbyterian (1-2) in Clinton, S.C.
 
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