Tide Soccer Falls in Home Opener to UAB, 3-2

Friday, September 9

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

7:00 p.m

Alabama

3-1-0

UAB

3-2-0

UAB

Tide Soccer Falls in Home Opener to UAB, 3-2

9/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

Friday, September 09, 2005

Haley MacDonald

The University of Alabama (3-1-0) soccer team lost its home opener for just the second time Friday night to UAB 3-2 at the Alabama soccer complex in front of a crowd of 1,056, the fifth largest in Alabama history.

The match was a see-saw battle all night that saw three lead changes and two ties before the Blazers sealed the win.

UAB’s Jenny Meyer scored her first goal of the season at 61:11 to give the Blazers a 3-2 lead. The goal held up for the final 29:00 of the match for the win.

“UAB took it to us in the second half,” Alabama head coach Don Staley said. “I give them a lot of credit. They have a good team. We’re going to watch a lot of film of this one and learn to correct our mistakes.”

Alabama out-shot UAB (3-2-0) by an amazing 22-8 margin and the Tide managed seven shots-on-goal. However, Alabama wasn’t able to mount a comeback in the second half to overcome the UAB lead.

Alabama took a 2-1 lead into halftime on the strength of goals from Hayley MacDonald (1) and Libby Probst (5). MacDonald tied things up at 28:05 when she found the back of the net off a free kick. Probst gave the Tide its only lead of the game when she beat Blazer goalkeeper Julie McFarlane from four yards out. Jordan O’Banion and MacDonald were credited with assists.

UAB didn’t waste any time getting on the board early. Just 5:46 into the game, Nasra Abdulah gave the Blazers a 1-0 when she captured the rebound off Tide keeper Kara Gudmens and put it away.

Alabama will attempt to rebound Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Alabama Soccer Complex when it takes on Troy.