Soccer Suffers 7-1 Loss to No. 1 USC

Sunday, September 7

Los Angeles, Calif.

3:00 p.m

Alabama

1-2-1

#1 USC

4-1-0

Alabama

USC

Soccer Suffers 7-1 Loss to No. 1 USC

9/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 7, 2008

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Alabama soccer team concluded its California road trip with a 7-1 loss to No. 1 ranked USC Sunday afternoon at McAlister Field. Alabama scored its lone goal in the 73rd minute as the Crimson Tide move to 1-2-1 after the day. The top ranked Trojans improve to 4-1-0 on the season.

"My biggest disappointment coming out of the weekend is how far off we are mentally," head coach Todd Bramble said. "There is a mentality you have to have to compete at the highest level and we just don't have it yet. We coached the psychological dimension out here and we got exposed. As disappointing as it was, we just need to try and get better. We have to find a way for this trip to make us a better team."

Senior midfielder Kailey Corken tallied the lone goal for Alabama. Corken struck in the 73rd minute when she headed in a cross from sophomore forward Victoria Frederick. For Corken it marks her second goal of the season which ties for the team lead. Frederick paces Alabama with seven points after the assist.

Six different Trojans found the back of the net for the reigning national champions. USC tallied two first have goals and then tacked on five more in the second frame to earn the victory. Nini Loucks paced the Trojans with two goals. Merihelen Tomer tacked on a goal and an assist. USA gold medalist Amy Rodriguez handed out one assist in her second match back from the Beijing Olympics.

USC out-shot Alabama 28-5. Loucks led the Trojans with five shots, putting four on goal. Five different Crimson Tide players rallied off a shot apiece. Alabama junior goalkeeper Kara Gudmens played the first half and allowed two goals and made four saves. Senior Karen Lansden allowed five goals and made five stops.

Alabama will return home to play two 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.