Alabama
9-8-2, 2-5-2
Auburn
13-2-3, 6-1-2
Tide Soccer Drops 2-1 Heartbreaker to No. 11 Auburn
11/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
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TUSCALOOSA, AL—The University of Alabama soccer team (9-8-2, 2-5-2) stood toe to toe with the 11th ranked team in the country for 90 minutes, however the Tide came up one goal short dropping a 2-1 thriller to the No. 11 ranked Auburn Tigers (13-2-3, 6-1-2).
Auburn drew first blood at the 29:35 mark when Lindsay Giblin drilled a shot from 18 yards out that hit the underside of the cross bar and caromed in for a 1-0 Tiger lead.
Alabama came clawing back eight and a half minutes later off a corner kick which has been a strength for the Tide all season long. Cally Morrill put the ball in play right in front of the mouth of the Auburn goal and a scramble ensued with Libby Probst finishing off the action with her eighth goal of the season, tying the match at 1-1.
The Tigers controlled the first half for the most part, out shooting Alabama 12-2 and forcing Bama keeper Laura Lowman to come up with five saves.
"Our defense did a (heck) of a job tonight," said Alabama Head Coach Don Staley. "We matched up with one of the best teams in the nation. I'm so proud of our girls; they played hard and gave great effort. It's going to be hard to replace these seniors."
Auburn drove the proverbial dagger into the Tide with 12:38 left in the match when Erin Hinson converted on a scramble in front of the Tide's goal putting the Tigers on top 2-1 and earning Auburn the first ever "Iron Bowl of Soccer" trophy.
The Tide posted its third straight winning season and the eighth winning season in Staley's ten years at the Capstone and while Alabama's season might be finished, the action has only yet begun at the Tide's soccer field. Construction on Alabama's brand new soccer facility begins on Monday, November 3.
Team Stats
GIBLIN, Lindsay
Assisted By: WALTERS, Jenn
shot from 18 hit crossbar and in
29:35
Libby Probst (8)
shot in front of goal
38:03
HINSON, Erin
scramble in front of goal
78:22
