Soccer Opens Spring Season in Impressive Fashion
2/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Feb. 26, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Alabama soccer team kept the momentum from it NCAA tournament appearance in the fall carry over to its first match of the spring as UA downed Samford, 3-1, Sunday afternoon.
The Crimson Tide blitzed the SoCon regular season and tournament champs with three straight goals to start the match before the home squad was able to sneak in a late tally.
UA seized the lead right before the intermission as Molly Atherton buried a half-volley over the keeper in the side-netting for the early 1-0 advantage.
The Tide kept the momentum going right out of the break as Kaitlyn Smith increased the lead to 2-0 when she headed home an Ashley Willis corner kick in the 46th minute.
Newcomer Katie Bourgeois got on the stat sheet for the first time in her Tide career when she found the net just inside the post from 18-yards out off an assists by all-region selection Pia Rijsdijk.
The freshman duo of Emily Rusk and Bourgeois played the full 90 minutes in their Alabama debuts.
Alabama will return to the pitch in a little bit over a month as it will host UAB on March 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., at the Alabama Soccer Stadium.
