Soccer Heads to Texas for Red Raider Classic
9/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 17, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama soccer team (2-3) will head to Lubbock, Texas this weekend to compete in the Red Raider Classic. The Crimson Tide will open classic play against host Texas Tech (4-3) on Friday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The Tide will play again on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. against the TCU Horned Frogs (4-3). It is the first full slated weekend for Alabama in over two weeks and the tournament marks the longest road trip of the season.
Who to Watch: Brooke Rogers scored her first goal of the season in the game against Memphis on Sunday, Sept. 13. Victoria Frederick continues to lead the Crimson Tide with the most number of goals (3) and points (8). Frederick is also a category leader tied for first in assists (2), shots (12), shots on goal (7), and game winning goals (1).
Last Time Out: Alabama lost its third game of the season, second at home, by a score of 2-1 against the Memphis Tigers. After giving up one goal in the 49th minute, Alabama fought back and tied up the score 1-1 in the 56th minute when a foul was called on Memphis and the Tide got a free kick that was capped off by a volley from Brooke Rogers. In the 85th minute, the Memphis Tigers scored the game winning goal and claimed a victory over the Crimson Tide.
Scouting Texas Tech and TCU: Texas Tech (4-3) will enter the Red Raider Classic coming off a loss Sunday on the road at Auburn by the score of 3-2. Sophomore Taylor Lytle leads the Raiders in assists (8), points (12), and shots (22). Redshirt freshman Dawn Ward leads the team in shots on goal (14) and is tied with senior Brittney Harrison in number of goals (5). The Red Raiders return eight starters off the 2008 squad that finished 8-10-1 and eighth in the Big 12. Eight seniors return for their final season, the most during Tom Stone's tenure, while nine true freshmen begin their first semester on campus. Stone is in his third year at Tech, compiling a 15-18-3 record.
TCU (4-3) also enters the tournament off a loss of 3-2 to Denver Sunday at home. Sophomore Jordan Calhoun leads the Horned Frogs in goals (4), assists (4), points (12), shots (25), and shots on goal (14). To start the season, Calhoun earned Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors and was selected to the Soccer America Team of the Week. TCU returns 10 starters off a squad that set a single-season school record for victories with a 14-4-2 record last fall.
Series History: Texas Tech and Alabama have yet to play each other. This Friday will be the first meeting for the two programs. The last and only game thus far between TCU and Alabama was in 2000 when the Horned Frogs beat the Crimson Tide 1-0.
Goal Streak: After struggling to find the back of the net in the first two matches of the season Alabama has turned it on as of late and has scored eight goals in its last three times out on the field. The Crimson Tide opened the scoring with a 2-1 win on the road against Jacksonville State and then exploded for five goals on the strength of seven points from Victoria Frederick to down South Alabama 5-1. The Tide then scored in a 2-1 loss to Memphis in its last time out. UA is 2-1 when it scores in a match this season.
Bramble Ties: Todd Bramble and Tom Stone will be on the same field for the first time since 2006 this weekend, but this time the two will not be sharing the same bench. Bramble, in his second year at Alabama, was previously the head coach at Clemson from 2001-2007, where he gave Stone his first college job in 2006 as an assistant coach that eventually led to his hiring at Tech the following season. Current Bama assistant Tatum Clowney was the volunteer assistant for the Lady Tigers during that time. Clemson's 2006 squad finished 11-8-5 and advanced to the Final Eight of the NCAA Championship.
SEC Rankings: Alabama junior Victoria Frederick ranks ninth in the conference in goals with three and goals per game at 0.6. Frederick is also tied for sixth with 1.6 points per game. Her seven points is tied for the most scored in a conference game this season and her three goals is also tied for the most by a SEC player.
Next Time Out: After the Red Raider Classic, the Crimson Tide will open SEC play on the road against the Mississippi Rebels on Friday, Sept. 25. The game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.
