Women's Soccer Week that Was: Week 10
10/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Oct. 20, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - In what seems to be an increasingly growing trend, the Alabama soccer team found itself victorious on Friday night only to have its hopes of a weekend sweep dashed on Sunday. The Crimson Tide was able to shutout SEC eastern division foe South Carolina 1-0 on Friday night, but suffered a 6-1 loss at the hands of the No. 10 ranked Florida Gators on Sunday afternoon. After the weekend, Alabama moves to 9-6-1 on the season and stands at 4-4 in conference play.
"It was another weekend of severe mixed emotions," head coach Todd Bramble said. "We earned a valuable three points against a very good South Carolina team and were very good for 60 minutes against Florida yet when the final whistle blew our heads were spinning."
Jumping out to an early lead off a Kailey Corken corner kick that found midfielder Rosaly Petriello's left foot in the 17th minute, the Crimson Tide was able to hold off South Carolina for the remainder of the game and earn its seventh home shutout of the season.
Although the Gamecocks out-shot the Crimson Tide 20-6, junior goalkeeper Kara Gudmens' eight saves were enough to hold off the attack and secure the win for Alabama. The shutout was Gudmens' sixth of the year.
To help further illustrate the Tide's Friday night dominance, Alabama has yet to lose a Friday night game at the Alabama Soccer Complex. Of the nine wins on the season, six of them have come on Friday night, improving Alabama's Friday night record to 6-1-1 on the season. To find the last time Alabama won back-to-back-to-back Friday night SEC contests, turn the pages of the record books back four years to the 2004 season.
Alabama was unable to sustain their Friday night play on Sunday. In welcoming the No. 10 ranked Florida Gators, the Tide looked to earn an impressive SEC weekend sweep. Unfortunately, the Gators proved to be too much for the Tide and handed them their sixth loss of the season by a score of 6-1.
Florida scored twice in the first half off of goals by Megan Kerns in the 23rd and 35th minutes. After the half, the Tide appeared poised for a comeback as Alabama's Jessica Deegan lofted a corner kick that found the head of sophomore Brooke Rogers for an Alabama goal in the 55th minute. The momentum, however, was short-lived, as Florida was able to hold off the Alabama attack and score four second half goals to put Alabama away by a score of 6-1.
The Crimson Tide went through a normal week of practice with two afternoon training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday, and a morning session on Wednesday. The focus in training defensively was team tactical training in preparation for South Carolina and Florida. Offensively the players were kept in very tight spaces to restrict time on the ball.
Alabama will play a rare Thursday game under the lights in Knoxville, Tenn. against the Volunteers on Oct. 23 at 6:00 p.m. Alabama closes out its home schedule against Georgia on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1:00 p.m.
