Alabama
7-3-1, 2-1-0SEC
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Mississippi State
5-7-0, 0-3-0SEC
Soccer Continues Home Streak with 1-0 Win
10/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Oct. 3, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - For the sixth time in as many tries the Alabama soccer team earned a shutout victory at home. The Crimson Tide opened its Southeastern Conference home slate with a 1-0 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs Friday night at the Alabama Soccer Complex. With the win, the Crimson Tide improves to 7-3-1 overall and 2-1-0 in SEC play.
"Coming out of tonight we are never going to be dissatisfied with getting three points," head coach Todd Bramble said. "We are really trying to focus in exclusively on our performance and I thought our performance tonight could have been much better. We thoroughly dominated that team on both sides of the ball and we should have made short work of the game."
The Crimson Tide kept constant pressure on the Bulldog defense but it was an own goal that finally got Alabama the three points. Off a Jessica Deegan corner kick, a MSU defender collided with goalkeeper Taryn Holland and the ball found the back of the net in the 43rd minute.
Alabama was in the Mississippi State defensive third all night as the Tide out-shot the Bulldogs 22-10, including a 14-5 effort in the first half. Sophomore forward Victoria Frederick paced UA with six shots, putting four on frame. Sophomore Brooke Rogers came off the bench to follow with three shots. Kevyn Shelledy led MSU with three shots.
With Alabama behind the Mississippi State back four for the majority of the night, Holland was tested and made 13 saves. Kara Gudmens made one stop on the night to earn her fifth shutout of the season. Alabama has not allowed a goal at home for 553 minutes. Gudmens has accounted for 452 of those scoreless minutes.
"We have always been able to step it up a notch defensively when we are at home," Gudmens said. "We take pride in not allowing goals on our home turf and tonight we were able to keep it going by a great team defensive effort."
Alabama extended its home shutout streak. With the 6-0 mark coming all by the way of the shutout, the Crimson Tide expands its record on the four-straight home shutouts to start the 1988 campaign. The Tide has now out-scored it opposition 12-0 on its home pitch.
"What I did like about tonight's game defensively was it started from our forwards," Coach Bramble said. "Tonight was a night where our forwards and midfielders took a lot of pressure off the backline and goalkeeper by getting such effective pressure on the ball."
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.
Team Stats
DEEGAN, Jessica (4)
own goal off of corner kick
42:29
