Alabama
1-1
UAB
1-1
Alabama Soccer Drops Heartbreaker at UAB, 2-1
8/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
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BIRMINGHAM, AL-After taking a 1-0 first half lead, the Crimson Tide soccer team (1-1) could not hold off a UAB comeback in the second half as the Tide dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to the UAB Blazers (1-1) for their first loss of the season.
The Crimson Tide struck first at the 23:11 mark in the first half, when Kylie Boyd touched a soft pass to her left for Gillian Kilburn who fired a left-footed shot just inside the left goal post out of the reach of UAB goalie Julie McFarlane giving Alabama a 1-0 lead. The goal was the first collegiate goal for Kilburn.
UAB tied the match with 22:46 left in the second half when Alabama committed a handball in the box resulting in a Blazer penalty kick. Jenny Rynders successfully converted the PK, knotting the match at 1-1.
The Blazers claimed the lead nearly seven minutes later when Briana McCarty sent a long pass into the box that skipped past Tide keeper Laura Lowman and Tara Kidwell finished off the shot for the lead.
While the Blazers put Alabama Head Coach Don Staley's bid for his 200th victory in women's soccer on hold for one more game, Staley did find bright spots in the match.
"I'm disappointed in the loss, but I'm encouraged by the understanding we have in our personnel, and the knowledge we gained in knowing what we have to do to win games in the future" said Staley.
The Tide played their second straight game without three-year starter Lauren Imwalle at the sweeper position and Cally Morrill and Rebecca Baker on the offensive sides of the ball. All three are out with injuries. Staley has been forced to move Katie Holtzapfel to the sweeper position, from her normal position at center-midfield, where she has started 60 consecutive matches.
"I think Katie (Holtzapfel) has done a great job holding the fort down until Lauren Imwalle returns," said Staley.
The Tide's season opening four-game road stand continues next weekend when the team heads west for games at Wyoming and Northern Arizona.
1 2 F
Alabama 1 0 1
UAB 0 2 2
Goals: UA: Kilburn (1)
UAB: Rynders, Kidwell
Team Stats
Gillian Kilburn (1)
Assisted By: Kylie Boyd
one-timer shot inside left post
21:49
Jenny Rynders
UAB Jenny Rynders PENALTY KICK GOAL.
67:14
Tara Kidwell
Assisted By: Briana McCarty
one-timer
74:02
