Alabama
4-5-0
Florida
7-1-1
Alabama Soccer Opens SEC Play at Home vs. Florida
9/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
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The University of Alabama (4-4-0) soccer team will begin Southeastern Conference play Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Alabama Soccer Stadium as it battles No. 6 Florida (6-1-1).
It will be the eighth meeting between the two schools in soccer. Alabama is still looking for its first ever win over the Gators, and the two teams enter the first weekend of conference play with opposite streaks in hand. Florida comes to Tuscaloosa with a five-game unbeaten streak while the Tide has lost four of six. However, Alabama has played well at home this year and head coach Don Staley feels good about his team's chances.
"Florida comes in here ranked sixth in the country," said Staley, "and the other day I saw James Madison, who we played tough, play fifth ranked Penn State to a scoreless tie. So I feel we can play with anybody in the country as long as we eliminate our mistakes."
The Tide and Gators are two of the SEC's highest scoring offenses and rank third and first respectively in goals per game. Florida has scored 21 total goals in eight games while Alabama has scored 20 goals in eight games. However, Alabama will look to break a 360 minute scoreless streak against the Gators. The Tide hasn't scored on Florida since a 3-1 loss in 1998.
Alabama is 3-2-0 at home in 2004 and played 268 minutes before allowing a goal in front of the home crowd. The Tide is also 6-4-0 in SEC openers and 4-3-0 in SEC home openers.
Senior Katie French will also be on a mission. Besides trying to lead her team to a first ever win over Florida, French needs just one assist to become the school's all-time assist leader. Sunday afternoon she tied the school's record, 15, previously set by Melissa McGee in 2000. French also needs only four goals to become the Tide's all-time goal scorer.
Alabama will continue opening weekend in SEC play Sunday afternoon as it plays host to South Carolina at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Freeman, Stephanie
Assisted By: Kellgren, Ashley
crossed line in air
85:22
