Women's Soccer Week That Was: Week 7
9/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 29, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama soccer team opened up its SEC schedule this weekend by splitting a two-game road trip with a win over Vanderbilt and a loss to Kentucky. On Friday night, the Crimson Tide shutout SEC Eastern Division Leader Vanderbilt, 2-0. Sunday afternoon, the roles were reversed, as the Wildcats ended Alabama's five-match winning streak with a 2-0 shutout.
"Overall we came back with mixed emotions," head coach Todd Bramble said. "As elated as we were after Friday night, we talked about the satisfaction not allowing ourselves to relax and take our foot off the gas. There are bigger things that we want accomplish. It takes an emotion toll to have those highs and lows over the course of a season."
The shutout Friday night was Alabama's fifth in a row coming at the hands of a strong defensive performance led by Kara Gudmens' career- high 13 saves. Although Vanderbilt outshot the Tide 37-9, Alabama was able to capitalize on its few opportunities with goals from Brooke Rogers and Kelsey King. Rogers also assisted King with her goal.
The win Friday night marked the first on the road for the Crimson Tide this season and the first against Vanderbilt since 1999. That last win against Vanderbilt in the 1999 season was also the last time Alabama won an SEC opener.
Kentucky finally broke the Alabama defense and tallied the first goal on the Crimson Tide since Sept. 7. Gudmens saw her 414 minute scoreless streak snapped when the Wildcats netted a first half goal on a penalty kick.
The Crimson Tide went through a normal week of practice with two afternoon training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday, and a morning session on Wednesday. Fox Sports featured coach Bramble and the squad on Wednesday. The squad left for Nashville, Tenn. right after the conclusion of the Thursday afternoon workout.
"All of our focus on the last couple weeks of training has been on speed of play, possession and stuff pertaining to the attacking third of the field," Bramble said. "We can do a little bit better of a job in possession knowing in SEC play we are going to face a higher level of pressure. Unfortunately that didn't translate into the weekend."
The weekend split moves Alabama to 6-3-1 overall on the season and 1-1-0 in conference play. The Crimson Tide looks to improve in SEC play with home games this weekend versus Mississippi State on Friday, Oct. 3 and Mississippi on Sunday, Oct. 5.
