Alabama
South Carolina
Alabama Soccer Drops Match at South Carolina, 2-0
10/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
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COLUMBIA, SC—The University of Alabama soccer team (7-5, 0-2) fought hard for 85 minutes, however it was not enough as the Tide gave up two goals in the final five minutes to drop a 2-0 heartbreaker to the South Carolina Gamecocks (8-3-2, 1-0-1).
The two teams played to a scoreless tie through the first 45 minutes of action with the Gamecocks possessing the ball for the majority of the half. USC posted five shots to Alabama's one while Tide keeper Laura Lowman recorded the only two saves of the half.
Lowman's second save came on the half's lone, real scoring opportunity when South Carolina's Ashley Williams found herself in a one-on-one opportunity with Lowman and fired off a shot but Lowman was able to get low and deflect it away with :53 left in the half.
Bama came out firing in the second half posting three shots in the first five minutes including a header from Allison DeLisle off a corner kick that missed high by inches, however each time the Tide was turned away.
Carolina finally got on the board with 4:08 left in the match when Amanda Thurber sent a centering pass to Shelly Hoddeson who put a shot in the upper right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
The Gamecocks extended their lead to 2-0 when Ashley Williams found herself on a breakaway and beat Lowman for her first goal of the season.
"It's ashamed that we play that hard for that long and finish with a 2-0 defeat," said Alabama Head Coach Don Staley. "The same miscues that cost us five goals Friday night cost two goals tonight and the match."
Freshman Gillian Kilburn paced the Tide with three shots while Katie French recorded two shots coming off the bench.
Alabama will host its first SEC match of the season this weekend when the Kentucky Wildcats and Vanderbilt Commodores come calling to Tuscaloosa.
