Early Goal Stands as Soccer Blanks UAB, 1-0

Sunday, August 22

Birmingham, Ala.

6:00 p.m

Alabama

2-0

UAB

0-2

Alabama

UAB

Early Goal Stands as Soccer Blanks UAB, 1-0

8/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

Aug. 22, 2010

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Alabama soccer team scored early and then clamped down to earn a 1-0 shutout victory over UAB Sunday night at West Campus Field. With the victory the Crimson Tide improves to 2-0 on the early season. The win was the first ever for Alabama against the Blazers on the UAB campus.

"I am really proud of the team, it was a game that had a lot of momentum swings," Alabama head coach Todd Bramble said. "I was happy with the leadership and the contributions from our upperclassmen. It was a game where we played a lot of players and our depth was definitely a difference-maker. Obviously the fact that that we never had won here was on our minds and we wanted to change that and got it done tonight."

Much like Friday night the Crimson Tide immediately found the net on Sunday. This time it was seven minutes into the contest when senior Brooke Rogers scored in nearly the exact same fashion as the season opener.

Freshman Molly Atherton played a brilliant through ball that senior Victoria Frederick was able to run onto near the end line and send a perfect cross that found the right foot of Rogers. The senior once again connected on a one-touch volley and beat UAB goalkeeper Alexis Braziel near post for her second goal of the season.

Atherton was nearly on the scoring end just eight minutes later in the half as she collected a Rogers through ball but just missed far post. The counterattack came right after the Blazers rattled the crossbar. Tide goalkeeper Justine Bernier was just able to get a hand on the shot while fighting the late evening sun.

Alabama entered the intermission with a 1-0 lead. The Tide was out-shot in the frame 5-4 with Bernier recording three saves.

In the 65th minute the Tide nearly found the net again when freshman Kendall Khanna found sophomore Tia King on a run right through the middle of the penalty area but the shot sailed just wide of the frame.

Bernier earned her 10th career shutout which ties her with Amy Pseja for third all-time in the Alabama career annals. The keeper made three saves on the evening.

"To come out on the road for the first time this season and get a quality win speaks a lot to what direction this program is headed," Bernier said. "To get a shutout and win for the first time on this field was special. The team fought hard for 90 minutes and that is all you can ask for."

The Tide was out-shot 10-6 with Atherton leading the way offensively with two shots. Carolyn Polcari and Tiffini Turpin paced the Blazers with three shots apiece.

Alabama will return home for a single contest next week. The Crimson Tide will face the Furman Paladins on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Alabama Soccer Stadium.