Women's Soccer Week That Was: Week 4
9/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 9, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama women's soccer team had a short week on the training field as it headed across the country for two games in Southern California. Alabama played two teams that were ranked in the top-25, including No. 1 USC.
Alabama opened the weekend against No. 21 Cal State Fullerton. The Crimson Tide went into the intermission knotted at one but eventually fell to the Titans 3-1.
"The Fullerton game is one that we are going to try and draw on throughout the year," head coach Todd Bramble said. "That was a dead-even game for 70 minutes. Leading up to their goal we had the better chances in the second half. I am really disappointed to not have gotten out of there with some type of result."
The Crimson Tide then took advantage of the sights in the Los Angeles area by visiting Hollywood on Saturday and even following some of the paparazzi. On Sunday after the USC match the team spent some time at Hermosa Beach and then capped off the trip by going to the Jay Leno show. Leno even took a picture with the squad.
After taking the day off on last Monday after earning a 3-0 win over Jacksonville State Alabama practiced on Tuesday and Wednesday before heading to California on a cross country trip. In the two days the Crimson Tide made an emphasis on defense.
"Coming out of the Memphis game it was a wide open end-to-end type of game that doesn't suit our athletes," Bramble said. "We need to be a little more disciplined and not get out of our defense shape. We showed tremendous improvement in that area when we stepped onto the field against Fullerton."
Alabama did not get back to Tuscaloosa until Monday and took the rest of the day and Tuesday to recover from the trip. The Crimson Tide will return to the practice field Wednesday for a 7:30 a.m. practice.
