Soccer to Begin SEC Home Slate
10/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Oct. 2, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama soccer team (6-3-1, 1-1-0 SEC) will begin its Southeastern Conference home schedule this weekend. The Crimson Tide will return to Tuscaloosa to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-6-0, 0-2-0 SEC) on Friday, Oct. 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the Alabama Soccer Complex. Alabama is coming off a 2-0 loss at Kentucky while Mississippi State fell to Arkansas 1-0.
Who to Watch: Alabama senior defender Colleen Posey has anchored the Crimson Tide defense all season long. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has played nearly every minute in the backfield this season. Posey helped lead the Crimson Tide to five consecutive shutouts - a new school record. Alabama did not concede a goal since Sept. 7 before the Kentucky game. The Alabama defense went 506 minutes without allowing a goal. Posey started in 19 games last season for Alabama and has started all 10 this year.
Last Time Out: The Alabama soccer team saw its five-game winning streak snapped in a Sunday matinee against Kentucky. The Wildcats were the first team to score on the Crimson Tide since Sept. 7 by putting two in the net to cap off the SEC opening weekend. Kentucky scored on a penalty kick in the 35th minute and then tacked on the insurance goal in the 57th to earn the win. Junior goalkeeper Kara Gudmens saw her 414 minute scoreless streak snapped. Gudmens made seven saves as Alabama was out-shot 17-8.
Scouting Mississippi State: Mississippi State enters Tuscaloosa with a 5-6 overall record and a 0-2 conference ledger. The Bulldogs dropped both matches to start SEC play, falling to LSU 4-1 and then dropping a 1-0 decision to Arkansas. As a team MSU has out-scored its opposition 20-15 and has earned two wins at home and two more on the road. Away from Starkville, Miss. the Bulldogs are 2-2 and 1-1 on neutral fields. MSU earned road victories against South Alabama and Southern Miss. A trio of Bulldogs sits atop the team's goal leaders this season, as senior Kevyn Shelledy and freshmen Tarah Henderson and Taylor Turnipseed have netted three shots each. Shelledy has also tallied two assists this season, knotting her with sophomore Leanna Baldner and fellow senior Anna Goblirsch for the top spot on the squad. In goal, Taryn Hollard has played every minute in between the pipes. Holland has made 60 saves and recorded three shutouts for a 1.35 goals against average.
Alabama vs. Mississippi State: The Series Friday's meeting will mark the 11th time the two programs square off. At the friendly confines of the Alabama Soccer Complex the Crimson Tide holds a 3-2 advantage. The two teams last met in Starkville last season where the Bulldogs handed the Crimson Tide a 3-0 loss. The last game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama earned a 1-0 shutout victory on Oct. 6, 2006. Overall UA holds a 7-3 all-time advantage and has out-scored MSU 18-15.
Weekend Promotions: The Crimson Tide will have an action packed weekend. Friday's contest will mark the Break Attendance Night as Alabama hopes to shatter its previous best mark of 1,213 fans that attended last season's matchup against rival Auburn. There will also be fireworks after the Mississippi State game and an autograph session. The players will sign autographs at the concourse of the complex after the game. On Saturday the team will sign autographs at 12:30 p.m. on the quad prior to the Kentucky football game.
Gudmens in the Rankings: Junior goalkeeper Kara Gudmens is not only ranked in the SEC but nationally as well. Gudmens ranks 17th in the nation with a .884 save percentage and ranks 28th overall with 6.55 saves per game. Behind the play of Gudmens, the Crimson Tide rank 23rd in the country in shutout percentage (.600). In the conference the 5-9 keeper ranks third in saves (61), second in saves per game (6.78), third in shutouts (4) and fourth in shutouts per game with 0.44.
Shutout Record: Before the loss to Kentucky, Alabama posted five straight shutouts which marks a new school record. The Crimson Tide posted four consecutive in 1987 and tallied three consecutive shutouts in 1994. Alabama started the streak with back-to-back 1-0 wins over Samford and Wright State and then added to it with a 5-0 drubbing of UTC and then a 1-0 blanking of Mississippi Valley State. The Crimson Tide opened SEC play with a 2-0 win over Vanderbilt. UA has posted five straight at home which breaks a school record to start a season.
League Leaders: Alabama senior midfielder Kailey Corken currently is ranked in several scoring categories in the SEC. Corken is ranked ninth in points with 11 and 10th in points per game with 1.10. Her five goals rank tied for second while her 0.50 goals per game ranks sixth overall. Four Alabama players are tied in assists with three apiece. Victoria Frederick, Kelsey King, Jessica Deegan and Brooke Rogers rank tied for seventh in the SEC. The quartet rank tied for seventh in assists per game with 0.30. Deegan also ranks in the top 10 in shots (5th) with 33 and shots per game (8th) with 3.30.
Next Time Out: Alabama will continue its SEC opening home weekend with a Sunday matinee against Mississippi. The Crimson Tide and the Rebels will square off on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1:00 p.m. at the UA Soccer Complex. Alabama will then hit the road again for two SEC matchups. The Crimson Tide will face off against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday, Oct. 10 and then play LSU on Sunday, Oct. 12.
