LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Five second-half goals by the University of West Alabama women's soccer team (3-3, 1-1-1 Gulf South Conference) lifted the Tigers past Delta State (2-4, 1-3 GSC) Friday evening at Tiger Stadium.
 
Two key players to UWA's scoring spree in the second half were sophomores Nicki Gears and Vicky Petrova. Each scored two on the night to give Gears her 10th goal scored on the season, while Petrovas' scores were her first of 2012.
 
The Tigers came out sluggish to start Friday's contest, as DSU's Payten Pearson scored a goal at the 23:02 mark to give the Lady Statesmen a 1-0 lead. Gears quickly answered that shot with one of her own just five minutes later to tie the match up at 1-1.
 
The Lady Statesmen were able to build a slim 2-1 advantage thanks to Lauren May's first goal of the season. Down 2-1 at the half, the Tigers turned into a seemingly different team in the final 45 minutes of play.
 
Freshman Lillian Khoodabandeh jump started the second-half surge with her first goal of the season to once again tie the match – this time at 2-2. That score was the first of five unanswered in the final forty minutes as UWA held on for the 6-2 triumph.
 
West Alabama registered 11 shots on goal, while Delta State was held to just four total shot attempts and three shots on goal. Tiger goal keeper Jess Martin picked up the win for the Tigers, while Kelsey Elling tallied the loss for the Lady Statesmen.
 
UWA now looks for its third all-time win in Gulf South Conference action on Sunday when the squad hosts Christian Brothers at 1 p.m.