Women's Soccer Week That Was: Week 6
9/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 22, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama soccer team continued its dominance at home with two more wins this past weekend. Alabama earned victories over UT-Chattanooga and Mississippi Valley State to secure the Crimson Tide Classic title. UA beat UTC 5-0 on Friday and then beat MVSU in dramatic fashion 1-0 on Sunday.
"Our week of training leading into the weekend was probably our best week of practice that we have had all year," head coach Todd Bramble said. "The competition for playing time is still very high so it is keeping the players in the starting lineup honest. I thought for the most part we were pretty sharp this weekend."
Alabama was paced by a pair of seniors. Kailey Corken and Jessica Deegan each tallied six points on the weekend. For Deegan, her points all came in the 5-0 win over UTC. The Centreville, Va. native had her hand in four of the five goals by finding net twice and handing out two assists. For Corken, all of her points came on goals. The Cincinnati, Ohio native recorded three goals, two of which were game-winners. No goal was more important than the tally with seven seconds left in regulation to hand Alabama a 1-0 win over Mississippi Valley State and the Crimson Tide Classic title.
With the two shutout victories Alabama has now won four straight by the way of a clean sheet and has tallied five shutouts on the season - all at home. The five shutouts to start the home schedule is a school record, breaking the old mark set 21 years ago. Kara Gudmens tallied the clean sheet on Friday while Karen Lansden recorded her first win and shutout since Sept. 19, 2007 by blanking MVSU Sunday.
Alabama had its normal practice routine last week. The team took its routine day off on Monday and then practice in the afternoon on Tuesday. The Crimson Tide returned to the field for an early morning session on Wednesday and finalized preparations for the Crimson Tide Classic Thursday afternoon.
A total of four teams played four games this past weekend. Alabama and Jacksonville each earned two wins. UTC and MVSU both suffered two losses at the UA Soccer Complex. For Alabama, Colleen Posey, Kelsey King, Kailey Corken and Jessica Deegan were named to the All-Tournament team.
Now with the non-conference schedule behind Alabama it will turn to SEC play. The Crimson Tide opens conference action in Nashville, Tenn. against Vanderbilt on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. Alabama caps off the weekend in Lexington, Ky. against the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday, Sept. 28 at Noon.
"I am looking forward for our team to come out and play fearlessly, passionately and compete" Bramble said. "I like the fact that we get to open up on the road and get tested right away. Vanderbilt is having a great year. They have a ton of momentum and have yet to lose at home this year."
