Bama to Play Florida in SEC Tournament Thursday
11/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
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For the first time since 1998, the University of Alabama women's soccer team will play in the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Auburn, Ala. on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. The Tide's opening round opponent will be the Florida Gators.
Alabama (10-10, 5-6 SEC) is the tournament's No. 6 seed while Florida (13-3-3, 7-2-2 SEC) is the No. 3 seed. Florida holds an 8-0 advantage in the series, but the two teams played the closest match in the series' history earlier this season. On September 24 the Tide fell to the Gators 1-0 in Tuscaloosa. Florida scored the game-winning goal at 85:22 on a shot that was saved by an Alabama defender yet the official ruled that ball crossed the goal-line in the air. However, that game has Alabama confident heading into its first post-season appearance in six years.
"We're thrilled about how this young team has played this year," Alabama head coach Don Staley said. "We've been the bride's maid several times but this group has fought through it all year. I think it is a statement of the character and perseverance of this team. We're anxiously awaiting the match-up with Florida."
Since the loss to the Gators, Alabama has gone 5-5 in the SEC, 6-5 overall and has played strong soccer. Despite a 1-6 record vs. SEC tournament teams, five of those six losses have come by just one goal including a 2-1 loss to SEC Champion Tennessee. Alabama's defense has been stellar all-season long. The Tide allowed more than two goals just once in SEC play.
After struggling early in SEC competition to score and being shutout in three of its first four conference games, Alabama has now scored in eight consecutive games. The Tide's offensive improvement heading into the post-season is also evident by the fact that it has had two of the final three SEC Offensive Players of the Week. Gillian Kilburn and Kylie Boyd each had multi-goal games down the stretch in key wins for Alabama and claimed the honors in consecutive weeks.
This is Alabama's sixth trip to the SEC tournament. The Tide is 2-5 in its previous seven tournament games. However, there is a bit of history that is leaning in Alabama's favor entering the post-season. In 1995, the last time Coach Staley took a team to the SEC tournament in Auburn, it advanced all the way to the championship game before losing 2-1 to Kentucky.
The winner of Thursday's game will play either Auburn or Ole Miss.
Live stats for the game will be available at www.rolltide.com as well as www.secsports.com.
