JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State soccer team broke open a 1-1 halftime deadlock with three goals in the second half to down Alabama A&M, 4-1, for the third win in a row on Sunday afternoon at the JSU Soccer Field.
After falling to Alabama in the season opener, the Gamecocks (3-1) have strung together wins over Jackson State, Alabama State and AAMU (0-3). It's the first time since 2014 that Jax State had three consecutive wains was during the 2014 season.
"We are still learning and we have our moments where we look shaky and I think it is a good sign that we are putting these wins together and finding different ways to win." said head coach
Neil Macdonald. "At times today they (Alabama A&M) made it difficult for us, but we found a way and that is what is important."
Highlighting JSU's second half effort was senior
Alicia Pallister, who filled her stat line with assists on three of the four Gamecock goals and gave the club breathing room with the JSU's third goal of the contest in the 71st minute. Pallister, who accumulated nine assists last season and ranked among the national leaders in NCAA Division I Soccer in assists, aided goals by
Nyeemah Prescod-Beckles,
Cynthia Bagozzi and
Gabriel Clarke. Clarke finished with an impressive performance with a pair of assists with her goal.
:She (
Alicia Pallister) is just an outstanding player and she is very good at taking players on the dribble and very composed in tight areas. I thought Gabby (Clarke) was outstanding in the second half as well."
The Gamecocks opened the scoring on a breakaway goal by Prescod-Beckles in the 26th minute. It was her third goal in as many matches for her off the JSU bench. Jax State's lead was relinquished prior to the halftime break as the Bulldogs netted a shot by Marissa Horton for the equalizing goal.
After just eight of the 25 shots by the Gamecocks in the contest, JSU controlled the movement of the ball with 17 shots in the final 45 minutes. AAMU finished with three shots in each half.
"We took control in the second half and that is what we really wanted to do, we kept the ball much better and we created a lot of shots, so I was obviously pleased with that added Macdonald.
Bagozzi handed JSU the lead with her goal in the 57th minute after beating the AAMU backline and the goalkeeper after a double assist play from Clarke and Pallister. Clarke rounded out the scoring moments before the final horn after finishing the assist by Pallister.
"I like that we are scoring and I like that we are sharing the ball. I think our top four are picking up goals and assists, so that is a good sign early on in the season," continued Macdonald.
The Gamecocks will remain on the home pitch next weekend, hosting Gardner-Webb out of the Big South and Sun Belt foe Georgia Southern. JSU will open the month of September with a 7 p.m. Friday night contest with GWU and close out the weekend on Sunday afternoon with the Georgia Southern.
