Lady Statesmen Soccer Game Notes - Week 8 (PDF)
CLEVELAND - As Delta State heads into the final game of the regular season, a berth in the Gulf South Conference Tournament  next week is on the line for the Lady Statesmen as they take on North Alabama on Sunday.

The Lady Statesmen currently sit one point out of the final seed, held by West Georgia. The Wolves hold the tiebreaker with a 2-0 win over the Lady Statesmen earlier this season. The Lady Statesmen need a win against North Alabama and a loss by West Georgia to West Alabama on Sunday to clinch the final spot.

Against North Alabama
The Lady Statesmen are 1-8-0 all time against the Lions of North Alabama, including a 4-1 loss at Delta State in a downpour at the end of September.

North Alabama took the lead on a long strike that sneaked through the grasp of Megan Galloway from the wet conditions. Lauren May answered for Delta State less than a minute later, heading home a cross from Payten Pearson to tie the game at one goal.

However, the No.21 North Alabama side answered back with another goal in the first half to carry a lead into the halftime break. In the second half, the Lady Statesmen kept the pressure on North Alabama, putting four of six shots on net, but were unable to avoid a pair of free kick goals. The Lions scored in the first minute of the second half on a deflection goal and then added another free kick goal in the 81st minute.

Pearson on scoring streak
This season Payten Pearson has moved up the career charts as a Lady Statesman, cracking the top five in six different offensive categories, including overtaking a record for assists.

While taking the assist lead, Pearson has also been finding the back of the goal, scoring in three straight Gulf South Conference matches heading into the final match of the season.

Pearson started the streak with the game-winning goal at Union. The junior then scored the go-ahead goal at Alabama-Huntsville before a late goal tied the match in an eventual overtime loss. In the last conference match, Pearson scored the only Lady Statesmen goal in a 1-1 draw.

Laurenzi nets second
Michelle Laurenzi scored her second goal of the season in a 3-2 loss at Millsaps Thursday night. The senior captain put home a penalty kick to tie the match midway through the second half.

Tucker finding top form
Freshman Erin Tucker has found form in recent matches for the Lady Statesmen. In Thursday nights match at Millsaps, Tucker scored her third goal of the season and was a major part of the offensive production. She also drew a foul in the box for a penalty kick on a quality scoring opportunity.

Against the states
The Lady Statesmen will face a team from Alabama for the fifth and final time in the 2012 regular season. Delta State is 0-4-0 against the state this season. The Lady Statesmen are 5-29-1 all time against the “Yellowhammer State.”