Derailed:Injuries pile up as women’s soccer team accept their first conference loss

Albeit last week’s game against top player in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Howard University (6-1), which resulted into a 1-0 win, Southern University’s women’s soccer team trickles down to the remaining games of their season to cap a progressive record so far.
Southern (4-1-2) undoubtedly is not focusing on the ineligibility of Southern University but more so on the conditions of their players. So far three players are injured which calls for no substitutions in the forthcoming games. This began on October 17 in A.W. Mumford Stadium against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs.
One of the leaders of the team, junior forward Jami Blackston, was carried off of the field after being re-instated in the game, which resulted into a basic knee injury.
Suffering from cartilage defect, Christen Blair, teammate and friend to Blackston said, “That’s my heart and my twin and she wears the number 10 band on her. It hurts to have seen her being carried off of the field, but now since she’s out the other girls will have to do what they have to do to get the job done.”
Remembering the heartfelt moment with Blair and Blackston, she dried her tears and continued with, “When it comes to knee injuries I know because I’ll be on my second knee surgery, but she’s strong. I believe she can bounce back and continue being the leader I know she can be.”
Head coach Courtnie Prather said that the trainers say that she will not be able to play for a couple of days, but she will return on the field. But just in case, she will be getting an MRI to further see damages.
After a minor surgery with an infected spider bite, junior mid-fielder Fabiola Parra was put back onto the field only to have her leg give her some obvious troubles.
“She’s dealing with a calf issue,” said Prather, “but furthermore injuries were a major catalyst in these games, but it’s also giving the young players on our team a chance to step up their game to get the results that we need to see.”
To pick up the remaining slack on the team, senior goalie, Sarah Forde trumps with returning save after save from causal to surprising save from casual to surprising shots from Alabama A&M offense. Alabama A&M had 15 shots and within those shots, eight of them were shots on goal. Alabama A&M thought they had the game, but by valiant effort from Forde and a call by the referee resulted in a no goal.
These senior players as well as Coach attested to the fact that the younger players stepped up to the task after the players had been bench-ridden. The first game on Friday night-lights was tied in double overtime.
“In the future, the young players need confidence to get the touches that they need,” said Prather.
On October 19, in A.W. Mumford Stadium against Alabama State, with Blackston being placed on the bench, the Southern defense held their own until forward Alexandria Cannon kicked the ball 50 yards to gain the first goal from what tended to be a Southern defensive ploy.
To add insult to injury on such a game with morale going down, Alabama State adds another point on the board with a penalty kick from mid-fielder Iita Pienmaki and caps a late victory that freshman players could not top.
Southern doesn’t give up as they travel to Texas and battle two impressive teams that are Texas Southern and Prairie View.