Alabama Soccer Heads West; Staley In Search of 200th Win
9/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
 |
|
It could be a big weekend for Alabama head soccer coach Don Staley and his charges as he takes the Crimson Tide soccer team west to face the likes of Wyoming and Northern Arizona all while trying to capture his 200th career victory as a head coach in women's soccer.
Friday's match-up in Laramie, Wyoming with the University of Wyoming Cowgirls will mark the 525th match as a head coach in Staley's career and while number 200 would be nice it is not at the forefront of Staley's mind.
"If I get 200, that's great, but that sort of thing doesn't really factor in for me," said Staley. "Right now, my focus is to make sure that everything we're doing is helping us prepare for the SEC season."
The Tide and the Cowgirls have met only one previous time, with Alabama coming out the victor, 2-0, in the second match of the 2001 season.
"Wyoming is a physical team that is a consistent winner at home," said Staley. "The altitude will be a factor but we've told the players that we have plenty of substitutes and to not be afraid of it, but instead just play as long as they can and then call for a sub."
Following the match with the Cowgirls, Alabama will then make its way south to Flagstaff, Arizona where the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks will be lying in wait for a Sunday date with the Tide.
The lone meeting between the Alabama and the Lumberjacks came during the 2000 season, with Alabama pulling out the victory 3-1.
The Crimson Tide brings a high-powered offense into the weekend, averaging 4.0 goals per match. Senior Dawn Nash leads the Alabama attack as she leads the team with three goals and six points. Sophomore Libby Probst is right on her heels at five points (2 goals, 1 assist).
Friday's kickoff against the Cowgirls is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT/4 p.m. MT while Sunday's affair against Northern Arizona will kickoff at 2 p.m. CT/12 p.m. PT.
