Alabama Soccer Defeats Sam Houston, 5-0, To Begin 2016 Season

Friday, August 19

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

7:00 p.m.

Alabama

1-0-0

Sam Houston St.

0-1-0

Sam Houston

Alabama

Alabama Soccer Defeats Sam Houston, 5-0, To Begin 2016 Season

8/19/2016 11:56:00 PM | Soccer

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –After an hour and ten minute weather delay, the Alabama soccer team defeated Sam Houston State in a 5-0 decision to open the 2016 season on Friday night at the Alabama Soccer Complex. The Crimson Tide featured four different goal scorers in the game, and it out shot the Bearkats by a 36-3 margin.

Alabama improves to an overall 1-0 record, while Sam Houston falls to 0-1 overall.

"I am very pleased with our performance tonight," said head coach Wes Hart. "Every player on the team contributed to the win. I am happy to see Emma Welch was dangerous all night long and scored for the second time in three games. Lacey Clarida continued her goal scoring streak dating back to last spring, and she has scored in her last eight games. Tori Gann was excellent. We used Tori a lot last year as a reserve to come into games and bring energy. Tonight she was called upon to start due to an injury and she did not disappoint. We will enjoy this victory for the next few hours, and then our focus will shift to Sunday and Murray State."

Sophomore Tori Gann led the Tide offensively, as she registered two goals on the day. Both of Gann's goals came in the first half. The other three goal scorers included senior Auburn Mercer, sophomore Emma Welch and junior Lacey Clarida.

Both teams battled early on until Gann capitalized off a cross that came from Welch at about 12 yards out in the 17^th minute to give Alabama an early 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, at the 22:50 mark, Gann scored again except this time it came unassisted as she weaved through defenders to drill a shot five yards outside the box to give the Tide a 2-0 lead. The scoring affair continued in the first half, as Mercer converted from 10 yards out off a pass from freshman Louge Shamburger in the 36^th minute to extend the Tide lead to 3-0 going into halftime.

Junior Kat Stratton registered her only save of the match in the first half. Going into halftime Alabama led 17-2 in shots and 5-0 in corner kicks.

Nine minutes into the second half, 54:30 minute mark, Welch drilled a shot in the right side of the net from a pass that came from sophomore Abbie Boswell giving Alabama a 4-0 lead. Clarida scored the Tide's final goal of the game in the 68^th minute on a through ball that came from senior Jordan Meier to lengthen the lead to 5-0.

Alabama played solid defense in the second half allowing only one Sam Houston shot compared to the Tide's 19. The Tide compiled seven corner kicks in the half, and it held the Bearkats to zero.

The Crimson Tide will be back in action on Sunday, Aug. 21, when it takes on the Murray State Racers at the Alabama Soccer Complex at 6 p.m. CT.

Get all the latest information on the team by following AlabamaSoccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.