Women's Soccer Week That Was: Week 3
9/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 1, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama women's soccer team officially opened its regular season with impressive results. The Crimson Tide played the full slate of games this past weekend after a successful week of game preparations.
"There was a lot of anxiety going into last weekend because of all the uncertainties out there," head coach Todd Bramble said. "I felt like we trained quite a bit together and worked in some practice games but to finally play in meaningful games and certainly opening up with an opponent like Memphis had our full attention. We are going to go into every game with a game plan that will help us win it and we are just going to have to be smart and sophisticated as the game unfolds."
Under the direction of the first year head coach the Crimson Tide practiced three times during the week before hitting the road for the season opener. The opening match of the season pitted Alabama against reigning conference USA and NCAA Tournament participant Memphis.
After practice on Thursday the Crimson Tide headed over to Memphis for the match the next day. In the season opener Alabama came out of the gates early when sophomore Victoria Frederick netted the first goal of 2008 for the Crimson Tide in the 16th minute off an assist from freshman Shannon Lathrop. Memphis came back to knot the game at one and then both defenses clamped down and held each other scoreless until the match ended in a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes of action.
The Crimson Tide then returned home with the ever important point on the road. With the draw under its belt Alabama welcomed Jacksonville State to the home opener at the UA Soccer Complex on Sunday.
In that contest Alabama again came out strong and kept its foot on the gas the entire contest as the Crimson Tide earned a 3-0 shutout victory. Frederick again was the focal point of the attack as the sophomore had her hand in all three goals, netting one in the fourth minute and handing out two assists. Seniors Kailey Corken and Callie Pike found the net for the first time on the season to help hand Bramble his first win as the manager of the Crimson Tide.
In her first start since the 2006 season junior goalkeeper Kara Gudmens showed no signs of rust. Gudmens logged nearly 187 minutes in between the pipes and totaled 14 saves on the weekend. Gudmens combined with senior Karen Lansden to earn the shutout against Jacksonville State.
For the weekend Frederick had a hand in every goal scored. The sophomore tied a career-high with four points in a single match. Frederick recorded four points on two occasions last season. The Huntsville, Ala. native paces the squad with six points on a team leading two goals and two assists.
Alabama will take a well deserved day off today and then dive into preparations for its longest road trip of season. The Crimson Tide will head to the Los Angeles area to play two matches. UA will open the trip on Friday, Sept. 5 against Cal State Fullerton at 9:30 p.m. CST and then play the reigning national champion in USC on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 3:00 p.m. CST.
