Soccer Officially Opens 2009 Season Against UAB
8/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 20, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama women's soccer team will kickoff its regular season with a match against instate foe UAB on Friday, Aug. 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Alabama Soccer Complex. The contest with the Blazers will be the first in a string of four games against nonconference instate opponents.
"I am definitely excited to play a game that will be on our permanent record," head coach Todd Bramble said. "We trained through our exhibition games and made sure to play everybody on our roster. Hopefully our legs are underneath us. We had 12 days to prepare 10 freshmen to rely on. The team dynamic is extremely different this season."
Last Time Out: The Crimson Tide wrapped up the exhibition portion of its schedule with a neutral site match against Clemson on Saturday, Aug. 15 at the Tophat Soccer Club in Atlanta, Ga. Consistently playing with five to six freshmen the entire game, Alabama was unable to muster anything on the offensive side of the ball and suffered a 4-0 loss. Alabama welcomed Mercer to the Alabama Soccer Complex on Thursday, Aug. 13 and held the Bears scoreless for the better part of the contest, but a header on a set piece in the 76th minute proved to be the difference maker as the Tide fell 1-0. True freshman Lindsey Sillers rattled off three shots, putting one on frame, while Brooke Rogers found the frame on one of her two shots. Justine Bernier started between the posts for Alabama and made six saves in 73 scoreless minutes.
Scouting UAB: The Blazers traveled to College Station, Texas for an exhibition match against Texas A&M on Saturday, Aug. 15 and suffered a 4-0 loss to the Aggies. A&M outshot the Blazers 12-1 in the first half and connected on two of those attempts to carry a 2-0 lead into the half. The script would read the same in the second half as the Aggies fired 14 shots, compared to UAB's four, and capped of the scoring in the 80th minute. Carolyn Polcari led the Blazers with three shots, one of which found the frame, while Marlijn Hermans also found the frame on her only shot of the game. UAB returns its two leading scorers in Tiffini Turpin, who scored seven times in 2008, and Polcari, who found the back of the net six times last season. Polcari also led the Blazers with four assists. Junior goalkeeper Kate Blankenship returns to the lineup for UAB after logging 1,644 minutes between the posts last year. Head coach Paul Harbin returns seven starters and 14 letterwinners to a team that finished 7-11-2 in 2008.
Series History: In nine meetings between the two schools dating back to 1996, UAB holds a 6-2-1 mark over Alabama. Alabama shutout the Blazers 4-0 in the series' first meeting in 1996 in Tuscaloosa, and edged UAB again in 2002 by a score of 3-2, once again in Tuscaloosa. UAB currently is riding a four-game winning streak with wins from 2003-06. The last game was played in Birmingham with UAB earning the 1-0 win in double overtime. The Blazers' Sally Palmer scored the golden goal in the 108th minute to hand Alabama its second overtime loss in as many games.
Bramble Ties: Alabama head coach Todd Bramble has an interesting tie with UAB coach Paul Harbin. Both goalkeepers growing up, Harbin and Bramble both attended Henderson High School in Chamblee, Ga. Harbin was four years ahead of Bramble and was the starting goalkeeper until graduation. Bramble then came in and followed suit for the next four years. Oddly the two would have the same path at Mercer where Harbin was in goal followed by Bramble.
Soccer on the Air: Alabama soccer will be on the air all season long. Behind the voice of Nic Gulas of WVUA fans can follow the Crimson Tide on youcastrpro.com. Fans can also watch the games live on rolltide.com.
Last Season Recap: Under first-year head coach Todd Bramble Alabama won six of its first nine games to jump out to a 6-2-1 start. The Tide played its last 11 games at a 3-7-1 mark, but finished with a 4-6-1 Southeastern Conference record and earned its first trip to the SEC Tournament since 2004 and just its second since 1998. Alabama's run in Orange Beach was ended in a 1-2 first-match loss to No. 7 Florida. The Tide recorded a 7-3 record within the friendly confines of the Alabama Soccer Complex and notched eight shutouts on the year, which tied for second most in the league. Sophomore Brooke Rogers garnered an All-SEC Second Team selection by racking up 10 points off three goals in conference play and four assists that tied her for most on the squad with four other teammates. Senior Kailey Corken capped off her career with a team-high seven goals and three assists to lead the Tide with 17 points. Victoria Frederick netted three goals and assisted on four others in addition to leading the team with 21 shots on goal in her sophomore effort.
Season Preview: After earning a trip to the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Alabama looks to improve on its 2008 effort. The Tide returns seniors Alex Butera, who logged a team-high 1,714 minutes as part of Alabama's stingy defense in 2008, and Kelsey King who adds experience in the offensive attack after netting two goals and assisting on four others last season. Although seven juniors return to squad, Alabama welcomes 11 newcomers to the team and will rely on the fresh faces to add quality depth and make an impact in 2009. After taking the 2008 season off to represent Team Canada in the U-20 World Cup in Chile, goalkeeper Justine Bernier returns for her sophomore year of collegiate action. As a freshman at the Capstone, Bernier garnered SEC freshmen honors after breaking the school record in saves with 145. In addition to the tough stretch of SEC action and the instate opponents of UAB, Samford, Jacksonville State and South Alabama, the Tide will host Memphis and travel to Lubbock, Texas for matches against Texas Tech and TCU.
Home Sweet Home: The Alabama Crimson Tide has posted a winning season every year except one at the friendly confines on the Tuscaloosa campus. The lone losing season came in 2006 when Alabama went 3-4 at matches held at the Alabama Soccer Complex. Alabama won a school record nine games at home during the 1996 season and has gone undefeated at home twice. The Crimson Tide posted a clean sheet at home with a 6-0 mark in 1988 and another 6-0 record in 1995 when Alabama won the SEC Western Division title. Alabama set the school record for consecutive home shutouts by blanking the opposition six times to open the home slate in 2008.
Returning Honorees: With the departure of five starters Alabama will lean on a group of experienced veterans, including three players recognized by the SEC for their accomplishments. Brooke Rogers returns for her junior season after scoring three goals in conference play and tying for the team lead with four assists. For her efforts, Rogers was selected as an All-SEC Second Team member last season. Justine Bernier, a SEC All-Freshmen Team member in 2007, rejoins the Tide after representing Team Canada at the U-20 World Cup in Chile during the 2008 season. As a freshman Bernier broke the school record in saves with 145. Victoria Frederick enters her junior year as one of the Tide's leading scorers from last season and was named to the SEC All-Freshmen Team after leading Alabama in points and goals her freshman year.
Bernier Helps Canada to U-20 World Cup: Alabama sophomore goalkeeper Justine Bernier (Oakville, Ontario) kept busy in her year away from collegiate action by representing her county and getting to travel the world in doing so. Bernier and team Canada sailed through CONCACAF women's under-20 championship to earn the title by the way of a 1-0 decision over the United States in Mexico. Team Canada did not fair as well at the U-20 World Cup in Chile, as they failed to advance out of their group after losses to Germany and Japan. The Alabama single season record holder in saves has been in the team Canada pool at the U-16, U-17 and U-18 levels.
Youth Movement: With 11 newcomers and 10 freshmen joining the Tide for the 2009 campaign, at least a few of the rookies will make an immediate impact on the field. After graduating the two leading scorers from last season, the offense looks to be an area that will look for help from the new faces. Head coach Todd Bramble cites Amanda Ortegon, from McAllen, Texas, and Lindsey Sillers, a local product from Birmingham's Briarwood Christian School, as two potential players who can add depth to the offensive attack. With the bulk of the defensive starting positions being occupied by returning veterans, the midfield is another area that can potentially be helped by the influx of newcomers, and Bramble sees freshman Josie Rix as a candidate to win the defensive midfield spot.
Two Seniors Look to Cap Off Alabama Careers: Although this year's senior class is thin, Alabama will rely heavily on the two that are part of the squad. Alex Butera logged a team-high 1,714 minutes while starting in every game for the Tide in 2008 as part of a defensive unit that recorded eight shutouts on the season, which tied for second most in the SEC. Kelsey King rejoins the Tide's offense after starting in all 20 games her junior season where she was one of four players to lead the team with four assists. King also netted two goals to total eight points on the year.
Alabama Soccer on Twitter: Fans of the Alabama soccer team can now follow the squad on Twitter. The social website will give fans an inside look into the program. Head coach Todd Bramble will provide the posts and will include pictures and videos of the team. htttp://twitter.com/AlabamaSoccer
Next Time Out: Alabama will hit the road and play its first full weekend slate of games when its heads to Samford on August 28 and Jacksonville State on August 30. The Crimson Tide will kickoff against the Bulldogs and at the Gamecocks at 7:00 p.m.
