Alabama Soccer Loses Overtime Affair with No. 17 Tennessee

Sunday, October 23

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

1:00 p.m

Alabama

7-8-2, 1-7-2

Tennessee

11-5-1, 8-1-0

OT 2

Alabama Soccer Loses Overtime Affair with No. 17 Tennessee

10/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

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Sunday, October 23, 2005

Kylie Boyd

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The Tennessee Volunteers' Kylee Rossi scored a goal in the 93rd minute Sunday to defeat the Alabama soccer team 2-1 in overtime at the UA Soccer Complex.

Rossi cleaned up a rebound in front of the Alabama net and beat Tide goalkeeper Karen Lansden for the game-winning goal.

"Tennessee is one of the best teams in the country," Alabama head coach Don Staley said. "They had some outstanding shots and we lost to the better team today. At the same time though, I'm proud of the effort from our ladies."

The loss drops the Crimson Tide to 7-8-2 overall and 1-7-2 in the SEC and also eliminates Alabama from SEC tournament contention.

Alabama entered the day knowing it needed to win its final two matches of the season to have a chance to play in the SEC tournament, but the Tide fell behind early in the contest when Emily Redberg gave the Volunteers (11-5-1, 8-1 SEC) a 1-0 lead just 7:00 in to the match. Redberg took a pass from Jenny Jeffers, turned the right corner on the Alabama defense and launched a shot that landed in the top left corner of the net.

The UT lead would hold through halftime and into the 62nd minute of play. That's when Alabama's Kylie Boyd tied things up with her seventh goal of the season and momentum shifted in Alabama's favor.

"The goal by Kylie Boyd was beautiful," Staley said.

Boyd took control of the ball in the left corner of the box off a lob from Jessie Deegan. Boyd then spun 360 degrees around a UT defender and landed a shot in the back of the net to even the score. It was just Alabama's second shot-on-goal on the afternoon, but none-the-less gave the team the spark it was looking for.

"I think we played much better in the second half," Staley said. "Several of the girls got fired up at halftime and we came out and caused some problems for Tennessee."

The final 27:45 of regulation was played without a goal and the game was forced into overtime, Alabama's third overtime affair of the season. It's the first time this year that Alabama has lost a game that went into to OT.

The Volunteers doubled Alabama's shot output on the day 22-11, but Alabama keepers, Lansden and Kara Gudmens, combined for 11 saves on the day, the most this season.

Alabama will conclude its regular season next Friday night at 7 p.m. as it plays host to rival Auburn at the UA Soccer Complex.