Soccer Opens Home Schedule Friday Night vs. UAB
9/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
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After starting the season with a three-match road swing that included stops in New Orleans, La. and Albuquerque, N.M., the Alabama soccer team will finally play in front of the home fans at the Alabama Soccer Complex this weekend with a pair of matches. The Crimson Tide will take on in-state foes UAB Friday night at 7 p.m. and Troy Sunday at 1 p.m.
Alabama (3-0-0) is fresh off a dominating performance at the New Mexico Nike Classic where the Tide shutout both New Mexico and Akron and outscored it opponents 5-0 on the weekend. Combined with a 4-1 win over Tulane in the season-opener, Alabama has outscored opponents 9-1 through three matches and is off to its best start since 2002.
“I feel like we got exactly what we wanted out of these first three games on the road,” Alabama head coach Don Staley said. “We were able to get a good inventory of our personnel and we competed in different environments: one of high altitude and one on turf. It’s exciting to think about how good we can be when we start clicking.”
Tide senior Libby Probst struck again this weekend for her fourth goal of the season, 22nd career goal, good for sixth all-time at Alabama. The Tide will once again look to Probst for offensive production Friday to snap a two-match losing streak to UAB. However, Probst isn’t Alabama’s lone source of offense. Allison DeLisle scored twice last weekend including the game-winner against UNM and Gillian Kilburn collected two assists on corner kicks within a four-minute span on Sunday.
The Blazers’ (2-2-0) defense has pitched two shutouts in the early going but has also allowed six goals, four to No. 16 Nebraska and two to Kennesaw State, in its two losses.
“UAB is coming off its best season to date, but looking back at our year last season,” Staley said, “the UAB match was a turning point. Even though we got beat, we learned what type of commitment it would take for us to win in conference play. That match was a catalyst to our success. For this to be our home opener, it couldn’t come against a better team. This will be a measuring stick for us to see where we are and where we need to be.”
Sunday, Alabama will be looking for its third consecutive win over Troy (1-1-0). Last year Alabama defeated the Trojans 5-0 in Tuscaloosa.
As an added bonus for all fans in attendance of Friday night’s match, drawings will be held at halftime for as much as $500 worth of gas as well as discount items at the concession stand. Admission all weekend is free.
