Soccer Opens SEC Action at Home
9/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
TUSCALOOSA ?? The University of Alabama soccer team (4-4-0) will look to extend its two-game winning streak this weekend as it opens up Southeastern Conference play at home against South Carolina and No. 24 Florida.
Alabama will host South Carolina (6-3-0) Friday night 7 p.m. and Florida (4-3-1) Sunday at 1 p.m. The first 500 fans in attendance Friday night will receive a free Alabama cooler bag. Both games can be heard locally on the Capstone 90.7 FM and will be streamed over the internet at www.newrock90.7.com. Live stats will also be available at www.rolltide.com.
Last weekend the Crimson Tide recorded a pair of shutout victories, beating Mercer 3-0 and Birmingham-Southern 2-0. All four of Alabama's wins this season have come in shutout fashion and the Tide has allowed just three goals in its last six games. In the process, sophomore goalkeeper Kara Gudmens has moved into sixth place in all-time shutouts at the Capstone with four.
The Tide will need its defense to play well again this weekend if it is to extend its winning streak. South Carolina and Florida each enter this weekend's action ranked in the top four in scoring in the SEC. The Gamecocks have scored 17 goals in nine games while the Gators are averaging 2.25 goals per game.
"This is where it all counts," Alabama head coach Don Staley said. "Everything we've done this season has been in preparation for SEC play and figuring out our formation and personnel. We've made some adjustments that have paid off. Now we have to generate more offense. We have to be smarter and pick our moments and be more dynamic on restarts. Last weekend gave us a little glimpse of that."
Offensively, Alabama is led by junior Jordan O'Banion. O'Banion has recorded three goals on the season, including a late goal Sunday on a header to ice the victory over BSC. In 37 career games O'Banion has scored 35 points; 14 goals and seven assists.
Freshman Kelsey King has also emerged as an offensive threat this season. King has scored in two of the Tide's last four games. Last Friday she recorded her first career game-winning goal in the win over Mercer.
This is the fourth consecutive season that Alabama will face South Carolina and Florida on the opening weekend of SEC play. Last season Alabama opened up the conference slate on the road with a tie versus Florida. Alabama held a 2-0 lead late in the game before the Gators scored twice in the final 12 minutes to send the game to overtime. The game was goalkeeper Kara Gudmens' coming out party. Florida outshot Alabama 22-7 and Gudmens made a career-high eight saves.
"We dodged some bullets in Gainesville last year," Staley said. "We could have lost that game by a couple of goals because they had some great chances."
Last weekend the Gators defeated Duke 1-0 and lost to perennial power North Carolina 1-0.
"Florida has played one of the strongest schedules in the SEC this season and their record is deceptive. They are playing the best soccer they've played in years and are blending their athleticism with skill."
South Carolina will enter Friday's game riding a three-game winning streak after defeating rival Clemson 1-0 and Jacksonville State 6-0.
"We are getting ready to step up the level of competition now," Staley said. "South Carolina is a team that is on the upswing and is scoring a lot of goals. They are going to come in here with a lot of confidence, especially considering last year when they beat us in Columbia after we had a good result against Florida."
