Soccer Well Rested for Morehead State
9/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 16, 2011
| Match #8 | Alabama (4-2-1) vs. Morehead State (4-2-1) | |
| Date | Sunday, Sept. 18 | 1 p.m. CT |
| Location | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | Alabama Soccer Stadium (1,500) |
| Tickets | Free Admission |
| Television | None |
| Radio | None |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| Streaming Video | TideTV |
| Game Notes | Alabama Notes  | Opponent Notes |
| All-Time Series | First Meeting |
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- After nine days off to rest and recover the Crimson Tide returns to the Alabama Soccer Stadium for a Sunday afternoon match against the Ohio Valley Conference's Morehead State Eagles on Sept. 18. The match marks the last non-conference game for the Tide, as it starts Southeastern Conference play against Vanderbilt and Kentucky the next weekend. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. CT, and will be shown on the internet on TideTV.
LAST TIME OUT
The Crimson Tide beat in-state rival UAB, 1-0, at home in front of a raucous crowd last Friday, behind junior defender Ashley Willis' late goal. The goal was a career first for the outside back. It was Alabama's third shutout on the season. The Tide outshot the Blazers, 16-9, firing off eight shots in each half. Senior goalkeeper Justine Bernier earned her second straight clean sheet by making three saves in the winning effort.
WHO TO WATCH
Alabama junior defender Ashley Willis scored her first career goal last weekend to help UA beat UAB, and will look to continue the trend against MSU. Willis was able to push up into the attack, and that will be key to helping the Tide on offense. Willis has helped the Tide post three shutouts this season, logging 90 or minutes the last six matches. Her 625 minutes played rank behind only K.K. Duffy (650) for position players. Willis has also added an assist this season.
SCOUTING MOREHEAD STATE
The Eagles enter the weekend 4-2-1 . MSU has spread the wealth on offense, with nine players scoring goals. Forward Brittany Kiracofe leads the team with two goals and three assists for seven points. In goal, Katie Blevins has started all seven games, posting two shutouts with a 1.23 goals against average. Last season, Morehead State went 13-7-1, winning both the regular season Ohio Valley Conference title and the OVC Tournament title, losing to West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Warren Lipka enters his third season as head coach. The Eagles will face South Alabama before heading north to Tuscaloosa. SERIES HISTORY This is the first meeting between the two schools.
BERNIER JOINS TEAM CANADA
Once again Alabama goalkeeper Justine Bernier got the call to play for Team Canada. Bernier, an Oakville, Ontario native joins the club for two international friendly matches against Team USA. The first match is set for Saturday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. CT. It will be played at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan., and will air on the Fox Soccer Channel. The two teams will then meet five days later on Sept. 22, for a match at JELD-WEN Field in Portland, Ore. ESPN2 will cover the match with kickoff slated for 10 p.m. CT.
BROOKS LOOKS TO SHINE
Alabama sophomore goalkeeper Shanna Brooks will start for the foreseeable future for the Crimson Tide as she will once again get the nod in between the pipes with the departure of Justine Bernier. Brooks earned three starts last season as a true freshman, filling in for Bernier who left for an international call up. Brooks posted a 2-1 record in her three starts, tallying a shutout and 14 saves in 277 minutes of action. Brooks closed out the season opener this year against Kennesaw State, recording one save in 23 minutes.
RANKED WIN
With the 1-0 win over No. 22 ranked San Diego State on Sept. 4, the Alabama soccer team earned its first win over a ranked opponent since 1999. The last time the Tide defeated a ranked opponent was in the opening match of the 1999 season, when the Tide downed No. 19 Vanderbilt, 2-1, in overtime on Aug. 27 in Tuscaloosa. Head coach Todd Bramble earned 16 wins against ranked opponents while at Clemson, before earning his first at the helm of the Crimson Tide program in 2011.
RECORD WATCH
Alabama goalkeeper Justine Bernier has already etched her name in the record books in numerous categories and is looking for more in her final season at the Capstone. Bernier earned her 24th career victory in goal, moving her into sole possession of second place in the career annals. Tide great Amy Pseja holds the record with 30 career wins. Bernier has extended her career records in saves (373) and shutouts (17).
NON-CONFERENCE WINS
Alabama has enjoyed success in non-conference matches under head coach Todd Bramble. In the midst of year four under Bramble, the Tide sports a 18-9-2 non-conference record. In the three completed seasons, Alabama has twice earned five wins, while earning four in 2009. The Tide already sports four wins in 2011 with one more to play.
2011: 4-2-1
2010: 5-2
2009: 4-3
2008: 5-2-1
VETERAN DEFENSE
Alabama returns one of the most veteran defenses in the country as three seniors and a junior comprise the backline and Justine Bernier resides in goal. The unit of seniors: Bernier, Veronika Wolfkeil, Carly Mygrants, K.K. Duffy and junior Ashley Willis has combined for 275 career games played. Duffy and Willis led the team in minutes a season ago while Bernier, Duffy and Willis both logged over 1,200 minutes in 2010. So far in 2011, Duffy, Bernier, Willis and Wolfkeil lead the team in minutes played, respectively.
HOME RECORD
Alabama earned its 100th victory in Tuscaloosa with a convincing 7-1 win over Kennesaw State in the season opener. With the most recent victory over UAB, the Crimson Tide now sports a 101-54-11 overall record in Tuscaloosa. Alabama posted a 6-3-1 mark last season. Alabama has only posted three losing seasons on its home pitch and posted a school record nine wins in 1996 and was a perfect 6-0 in 1995. The Tide has won five or more matches at home on 15 occasions.
NEXT WEEK
Alabama will remain at home to start conference play against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Vanderbilt comes to the Alabama Soccer Stadium on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m., and Kentucky will come to town on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m.
