Alabama Soccer Defeats Arkansas State, Wins Tournament Title

Monday, September 4

Memphis, Tenn.

11:00 a.m

Alabama

2-2

Arkansas State

0-4

Alabama

Arkansas State

Alabama Soccer Defeats Arkansas State, Wins Tournament Title

9/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. ?? The University of Alabama soccer team (2-2-0) won its second consecutive game Monday with a 4-0 win over Arkansas State to claim the Memphis Nike Classic Championship.

Four Alabama players, Hayley MacDonald, Jordan O’Banion, Jessie Deegan, Kara Gudmens, were named to the All-Tournament Team for their play during the weekend. MacDonald garnered Tournament MVP honors.

“We are thrilled to leave here at 2-0 on the weekend,” Alabama head coach Don Staley said. “I thought we did a lot of good things organizationally on defense. With our opponents coming up next weekend, this will bode well for us as far as having some confidence and momentum going in.”

Even though Alabama controlled the pace of play from the outset Monday, it took the Tide a little time to finally find the back of the net. Then at 18:16, Suzanne Baker cleaned up a rebound in front of an empty net for her first goal of the season to put the Tide up 1-0. Baker’s goal seemingly lifted the lid off the net.

Ten minutes later, Alabama scored again. This time the goal came on a free from Kailey Corken to a sliding Callie Pike.

Jordan O’Banion accounted for the final two goals of the game, both coming in the second half. O’Banion was awarded a penalty kick at 54:20 after she turned the corner against an ASU defender and was taken down inside the box. She delivered on the ensuring penalty kick to stretch the lead to 3-0.

O’Banion picked up her second goal of the game at 86:33.

“I was excited to see Jordan O’Banion get a couple of goals and I was equally as excited to see us move the ball around today and stick to our game plan,” Staley said.

For the first time this season Alabama outshot its opponent. UA took 27 shots at the net and held the Indians to just eight. UA’s 27 shots, 11 shots-on-goal and seven corner kicks in the game were all season-highs. Kara Gudmens pitched her second consecutive shutout as well.

Alabama will now carry a two-game winning streak into next weekend’s tournament action at UAB. Alabama will take on Kansas Friday at 5 p.m. and host UAB Sunday at 2 p.m. Both matches will be played in Birmingham.