The Lady Hornets traveled to Joneboro, Arkansas, on a humid Tuesday night to face the Red Wolves of Arkansas State in a non‑conference showdown that would test both teams’ early‑season resolve.
From the opening whistle, Alabama State pressed forward, and just three minutes in, Nishio found the back of the net with a swift strike that set the tone for a match that would see a total of 24 shots directed at the visitors’ goal.
A Night of Milestones in Joneboro
Espinel, the freshman goalkeeper, rose to the occasion, making eight saves that kept the Red Wolves at bay despite a barrage of attacks that included six yellow cards and 25 combined fouls.
The home side answered back in the second half, with a pair of goals that forced the game into a 2‑2 deadlock, but the Lady Hornets’ resilience shone through as they held on for the draw.
Nishio’s brace marked her first multi‑goal performance since the 2022 season, echoing the feat of Elli Higashi, and it underscored a breakthrough moment for a player who arrived from Japan with high expectations.
Statistically, Alabama State dominated the set‑piece battle, out‑cornering Arkansas State 12 to 2, a testament to their attacking persistence that ultimately paid off in the early minutes.
Looking Ahead for the Lady Hornets
The team will now shift its focus to upcoming road tests, beginning with a clash against the Mercer Bears on September 6, followed by a showdown with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on September 13, before the first conference encounter with Alcorn State on September 27.
Coach Queenster Mensah and the rest of the coaching staff will look to build on the positive moments from Joneboro, especially the defensive solidity displayed by Espinel and the offensive spark provided by Nishio.