Soccer Concludes California Trip with No. 1 USC
9/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 6, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama women's soccer team (1-1-1) will conclude its California road trip with a match against the No. 1 ranked USC Trojans (3-1-0). The two teams will square off on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 3:00 p.m. CST at McAlister Field on the USC campus. The Crimson Tide opened its west coast trip with a 3-1 loss to No. 21 ranked Cal State Fullerton.
"I would imagine for our players that this might be one of the most memorable experiences of their entire college careers by being able to play the defending national champion," head coach Todd Bramble said. "USC is going to be a talent laden team and we expect to learn from the experience and we are going to go out there and try to compete and win."
Who to Watch: Alabama freshman Veronika Wolfkeil showed no signs of being intimidated as she played her first career ranked opponent. The newcomer netted her first career goal to knot the match at one and send the two teams into the locker room tied at one at half. In her last two matches Wolfkeil has recorded three points on a goal and an assist. The Niceville, Fla. native tallied her first career point against Jacksonville State on Sunday, Aug. 31. Wolfkeil is the second player on the Crimson Tide roster to score points in consecutive matches as sophomore Victoria Frederick accomplished the feat on the way to being named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Wolfkeil currently ranks second on the team with her three points.
Last Time Out: The Crimson Tide opened its California road trip with a 3-1 loss to No. 21 ranked Cal State Fullerton. The Titans opened the scoring in the 30th minute but the Crimson Tide answered 11 minutes later as freshman Veronika Wolfkeil netted her first collegiate goal. Fullerton then closed out the match with goals in the 69th and 76th minute. The loss was a first for the Crimson Tide in the 2008 campaign and a first for new Alabama head coach Todd Bramble.
Scouting Southern Cal: The Trojans enter their Sunday contest with the Crimson Tide ranked No. 1 in two of the four national polls. USC is coming off a historic season that saw its squad earn its first national championship in women's soccer with a final record of 20-3-2. This season the Trojans are off to a 3-1 start, earning a 2-1 win over No. 12 ranked Santa Clara on Friday night. The lone loss on the season came at the hands of No. 6 Portland. With the win over the Broncos on Friday the Trojans now have won 12 straight matches at McAlister Field dating back to an 8-0-1 mark in 2007. USC has scored five goals and allowed two in 2008. All five goals have come from different players as Ashli Sandoval currently paces the team with four points on one goal and two assists. Olympic gold medalist Amy Rodriguez returns to the lineup after returning from Beijing for Team USA. In between the pipes Brittany Massro and Kristin Olsen has split time with Olsen playing in three of the five contests.
Alabama vs. USC: The Series: Sunday's meeting will mark the first match between the two programs. Alabama has played four teams from California and has compiled a record of 1-4. The lone win came in a 1-0 decision against San Diego in the Reebok Classic in 1997 in Fullerton, Calif.
Frederick Named Offensive Player of the Week: Alabama sophomore forward Victoria Frederick has been a force up front for the Crimson Tide as the Huntsville, Ala. native has amassed six points on two goals and two assists in two matches. Alabama has scored four goals this season and the sophomore has had her hand in each one of them. For her effort over the weekend Frederick was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week. The 2007 leading scorer for Alabama becomes the first Crimson Tide offensive player to earn a weekly honor since Libby Probst was named the Soccer America Player of the Week in 2005. Last season Justine Bernier was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Bramble Earns First Career Alabama Victory: Head coach Todd Bramble earned his first career Alabama victory after the Crimson Tide handed the new manager a 3-0 win over Jacksonville State on Aug. 31. The win gave Bramble his 81st career victory. At Clemson Bramble won the first match he coached while at the helm of the program. The Lady Tigers earned a 7-0 victory over his alma mater Mercer. Clemson went on to finish the season 15-5-1 and ended up ranked No. 11 in the country.
Next Time Out: After logging its longest road trip on the season Alabama will return home to Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Crimson Tide will play two home contests next weekend. Alabama returns to play in state rival Samford on Friday, Sept 12 and then caps off the weekend with a match against Wright State on Sunday, Sept. 14. Both matches will be played at the UA Soccer Complex.
