Alabama
2-4
UAB
1-4
Late Goal Defeats Alabama Soccer
9/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
BIRMINGHAM ?? The University of Alabama soccer team (2-4-0) lost in double overtime Sunday 1-0 to the UAB Blazers (1-3-0) at the UAB Nike Classic.
The Blazers’ Sally Palmer scored the golden goal at 107:38. The game was Alabama’s second overtime loss of the tournament.
Palmer’s game-winning goal took advantage of one of Alabama’s few defensive mistakes on the day. The play was set in motion by a UAB corner kick. Alabama goalkeeper Kara Gudmens came out to catch the ball in flight but bobbled the kick. An open Palmer then found the net for the game’s only score.
“This was a tough game to lose,” Alabama head coach Don Staley said. “I can’t be upset with how we played. I thought we battled and played our hearts out. Unfortunately, we made one miscue and they capitalized on it. We shouldn’t have put ourselves in that position, but we did and we’ll have to learn from it.”
Despite giving up the late goal, Alabama was on top of its game again defensively. Alabama allowed just five shots-on-goal in the contest and was a mere two minutes away from pitching its third shut-out in four games.
Gudmens finished with four saves after tying her career-high Friday with eight. She became the sixth keeper in Alabama history to record 100 career saves. She made two stellar saves in the game. The first came in the 18th minute when she dove to her left to stop a Palmer shot fired from 25 yards out. Then in the second half she stopped a shot from Jenny Meyer from inside the six-yard box with her back to the net.
“Kara Gudmens kept us in the game with a huge save,” Staley said, “and I also commend our defenders. They were under pressure all day and answered the call.”
Offensively, Alabama applied a good bit of pressure to the UAB defense, but was never able to dent the scoreboard. The Tide managed 10 shots in the game; five in the first half, three in the second and two in the overtime periods. The Tide’s best scoring opportunity came late the second half when Kelsey King, who had just been inserted into the game, took a shot from the left wing, but UAB keeper Julie McFarlane made the save.
The game was one of the more physical contests of the season for Alabama. The two teams combined for 34 fouls and four yellow cards.
For the second consecutive week, Jordan O’Banion and Hayley MacDonald earned All-Tournament Team honors.
Alabama will open up its home schedule next weekend when it hosts Mercer Friday at 7 p.m. and Birmingham-Southern Sunday at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
PALMER, Sally (1)
Assisted By: LIVERPOOL, Nadine
GOAL by UAB PALMER, Sally (FIRST GOAL), Assist by LIVERPOOL, Nadine, goal number 1 for season.
107:38
